24.08.020 Definitions.
“Appeal” means a request for a review of the Building Inspector’s interpretation of any provision of this title or a request for a variance.
“Area of shallow flooding” means a designated AO or AH Zone on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The base flood depths range from one to three feet; a clearly defined channel does not exist; the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate; and velocity flow may be evident. AO is characterized as sheet flow and AH indicates ponding.
“Area of special flood hazard” means the land in the floodplain within a community subject to a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. Designation on maps always includes the letters A or V.
“Base flood” means the flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. Also referred to as the “100-year flood.” Designation on maps always includes the letters A or V.
“Basement” means any area of the building having its floor sub-grade (below ground level) on all sides.
“Development” means any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations located within the area of special flood hazard.
“Flood” or “flooding” means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
(a) The overflow of inland or tidal waters; and/or
(b) The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source.
“Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)” means the official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.
“Floodway” means the channel of a river or other water course and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot.
“Lowest floor” means the lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage, in an area other than a basement area, is not considered a building’s lowest floor; provided, that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable nonelevation design requirements of this title found at PMC 24.20.080(2).
“Manufactured home” means a structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis and is designed for use with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. The term “manufactured home” does not include a “recreational vehicle.”
“Manufactured home park or subdivision” means a parcel (or parcels) of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
“New construction” means structures for which the “start of construction” commenced on or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title.
“Start of construction” includes substantial improvement, and means the date the building permit was issued; provided, that the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, placement or other improvement was within 180 days of the permit date. The actual start means either the first placement of permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as the pouring of slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns, or any work beyond the stage of excavation; or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; nor does it include the installation of streets and/or walkways; nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, piers, or foundation or the erection of temporary forms; nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main structure.
“Structure” means a walled and roofed building including a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground.
“Substantial damage” means damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its “before damaged” condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
“Substantial improvement” means any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure either:
(a) Before the improvement or repair is started; or
(b) If the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purposes of this definition “substantial improvement” is considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not the alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure.
The term does not, however, include either:
(c) Any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
(d) Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
“Variance” means a grant of relief from the requirements of this title which permits construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by this title. [Ord. 4469A § 1, 2019; Ord. 4469 § 1, 2019; Ord. 2648 § 2, 1987; Code 1970 §§ 24.08.020 – 24.08.090.]