§ 15-3. DEFINITIONS., Chapter 15. FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION, Code of Ordinances, Deptford

§ 15-3. DEFINITIONS.

Latest version.

As used in this section:

APPEAL: A request for a review of the interpretation of any provision of this chapter or a request for a variance.

AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING: A designated AO zone on a Community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) with base flood depths from one to three feet where a clearly defined channel does not exist; or the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate; and where velocity flow may be evident.

AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD: The land in the floodplain within a community subject to a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year.

BASE FLOOD: The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.

BASEMENT: Any area of the building where its floor subgrade is below level on all sides.

BREAK AWAY WALL: A wall that is not part of the structural support of the building and is intended through its design and construction to collapse under specific lateral loading forces without causing damage to the elevation portion of the building or supporting foundation system.

DEVELOPMENT: Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings and other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations located within the area of special flood hazard.

ELEVATED BUILDING: A nonbasement building (i) built in the case of a building in an area of special flood hazard to have the top of the elevated floor wherein the case of the building in a coastal high hazard area to have the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the elevated floor elevated above the ground level by means of piling, columns (posted and piers), or shear walls parallel to the flow of the water and (ii) adequate anchoring as not to impair the structural integrity of the building during a flood of up to the magnitude of the base flood. In an area of special flood hazard "elevated building" also includes a building otherwise meeting the definition of "elevated building" even though the lower area is enclosed by means of break away walls.

FLOOD OR FLOODING: A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation or normally dry land areas from:

FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM): 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 Township.

FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY: The official report provided to the Township in which the Federal Insurance Administration has provided flood profiles, as well as the Flood Boundary-Floodway Map and the water surface elevation of the base flood.

FLOODWAY: The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevations more than 0.2 feet.

LOWEST FLOOR: The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area including basement. An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure useable solely for the parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement is not considered a building lowest floor provided that such enclosure is not built so to render the structure in violation in other applicable nonelevation design requirements.

MANUFACTURED HOME: 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, then connected to the required utilities. For floodplain management purposes the term "manufactured homes" also includes park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles placed on a site for greater than 180 consecutive days. For insurance purposes the term "manufactured home" does not include park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles.

MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR MANUFACTURED HOME SUBDIVISION: A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.

NEW CONSTRUCTION: Structures for which the "start of construction" commenced on or after the effective date of this chapter.

START OF CONSTRUCTION: A first placement of permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as the pouring of slabs or footings or any work beyond the state of excavation. 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 foundations 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 as part of the main structure. For a structure without a basement or poured footings, the "start of construction" includes the first permanent framing or assembly of the structure or any part thereof on its piling or foundation.

START OF CONSTRUCTION (FOR OTHER THAN NEW CONSTRUCTION OR SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS UNDER THE COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES ACT. (P.L. 97-248)): Includes substantial improvement and means the date the building permit was issued, provided 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 a slab or footing, 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 sidewalks, nor does it include excavation for a basement, footing, piers, or foundations or 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.

SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT: Any repair, reconstruction or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure either:

VARIANCE: A grant of relief to a person from the requirements of this chapter which permits construction in a manner otherwise prohibited by this chapter where specific enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship.

Ord. No. 0-19-82 § 3; Ord. No. 0-12-88 § 1

	For 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:
	a.	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
	b.	Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.