“Alteration of watercourse” means action that will change the location of the channel occupied by water within the banks of any portion of a riverine waterbody.

“Appeal” means a request for a review of the designated official’s interpretation of any provision of this chapter 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 1 to 3 feet, a clearly defined channel does not exist, the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate, and velocity flow may be evident. (AO zones are characterized by flowing water and AH zones are usually areas of ponding.)

“Area of special flood hazard, Zone A” means the land in the floodplain within the City subject to a 1 percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year, but no base flood elevations were determined. Designated on maps as “Zone A.”

“Area of special flood hazard, Zone AE” means the land in the floodplain within the City subject to a 1 percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year, as determined by a detailed study. Designation on maps always includes the letters AE or VE.

“Base flood” means the flood having a 1 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. It is also referred to as the “100-year flood.” The base flood is determined as defined by the latest Federal Emergency Management Administration (“FEMA”) FIRM maps. In areas where the flood insurance study includes detailed base flood calculations, those calculations may be updated with projections of future flows and base flood elevations, subject to approval by the City.

“Base flood elevation (BFE)” means the water surface elevation to which flood water is anticipated to rise during the base flood. It shall be referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88).

“Basement” means any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides.

“Compensatory storage” means new, excavated storage volume equivalent to any flood storage capacity which has been or would be eliminated by filling or grading within the floodplain. “Equivalent” shall mean that the storage removed shall be replaced by equal volume between corresponding 1-foot contour intervals that are hydraulically connected to the floodway through their entire depth.

“Critical facility” means a facility for which even a slight chance of flooding might be too great. Critical facilities include, but are not limited to, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, police, fire, and emergency response installations; installations which produce, use, or store hazardous materials or hazardous waste in a manner that could result in a significant release during flooding conditions; and any structure classified as a group “E,” “H” or “I” occupancy as defined by the International Building Code.

“Designated official” means the City of Issaquah Director of Public Works or any duly authorized representative of such Director. For the purposes of reviewing development proposals for building code compliance and elevation certificates, the Director authorizes the Building Official to administer the relevant portions of this chapter.

“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, installation of landscape berms and planters, storage of equipment or materials, excavation or drilling operations located within the area of special flood hazard (Zones A or AE).

“Equipment” servicing residential and inhabited structures means all electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, air-conditioning equipment, and other utility and service facilities.

“Flood” or “flooding” means:

“Flood insurance rate map (FIRM)” means the official map on which the Federal Insurance Administrator has delineated both the areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable to the community. A FIRM that has been made available digitally is called a digital flood insurance rate map (DFIRM).

“Flood insurance study” means an examination, evaluation and determination of flood hazards and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations, or an examination, evaluation and determination of mudslide (i.e., mudflow) and/or flood-related erosion hazards. Also known as the flood elevation study.

“Floodplain” or “flood-prone area” means any land area subject to inundation by the base flood. The floodplain includes both rapidly flowing water and standing water. See definition of “Flood” or “flooding.”

“Floodplain administrator” means the community official designated by title to administer and enforce the floodplain management regulations.

“Floodplain management regulations” means the zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, building codes, health regulations, special purpose ordinances (such as a floodplain ordinance, grading ordinance and erosion control ordinance) and other applications of police power. The term describes such State or local regulations, in any combination thereof, which provide standards for the purpose of flood damage prevention and reduction.

“Floodproofing” means any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents. Floodproofed structures are those that have the structural integrity and design to be impervious to floodwater below base flood elevation.

“Flood protection elevation” means an elevation that is defined by the area of special flood hazard designation, as depicted on the FEMA flood insurance rate map (FIRM) and the Issaquah Creek Basin and Nonpoint Action Plan. The flood protection elevation is as follows for the listed activity and related zone designation:

“Flood wall” means any material so constructed, piled, bermed or otherwise placed in an area of special flood hazard that diverts or displaces floodwater for the purpose of protecting structures and/or property.

“Floodway” means 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 elevation more than designated height. The floodway is designated by FEMA on the FIRM or floodway map.

“Fully enclosed area” means: (1) an area where the net free openings in an exterior wall comprise less than 30 percent of the exposed wall under consideration. The exposed wall is the area within the boundaries described by the grade line, the vertical edges of the wall, and a horizontal line set at an elevation of 1 foot above the base flood elevation; or (2) any time the bottom edge of an opening, considered to be a portion of the net free opening area as described above, is located more than 1 foot above the grade line.

“Functionally dependent use” means a use which cannot perform its intended purpose unless it is located or carried out in close proximity to water. The term includes only docking facilities, port facilities that are necessary for the loading and unloading of cargo or passengers, and ship building and ship repair facilities, and does not include long term storage or related manufacturing facilities.

“Highest adjacent grade” means the highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.

“Historic structure” means any structure that is:

“Improvement” means any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of an existing structure.

“Key facility” means a facility for which even a slight chance of flooding would be damaging or disruptive to the public. Key facilities include but are not limited to multifamily residences and commercial properties, and other related similar public and private occupied facilities that are subject to damage and disruption of activities during a flood.

“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 IMC 16.36.130.

“Manufactured home” means a structure, transportable in 1 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. For floodplain management purposes the term “manufactured home” 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 subdivision” means a parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into 2 or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.

“Map” means the flood hazard boundary map (FHBM) or the flood insurance rate map (FIRM) for a community issued by the Federal Insurance Administrator.

“Mean sea level” means the average height of the sea for all stages of the tide. For purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program, the vertical datum to which base flood elevations shown on a community’s flood insurance rate map are referenced.

“New construction” means new, complete residential or nonresidential structures for which the start of construction is commenced on or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. For the purposes of this chapter, building additions are termed improvements (see “substantial improvements”). For the purposes of determining insurance rates, structures for which the “start of construction” commenced on or after the effective date of an initial flood insurance rate map or after December 31, 1974, whichever is later, and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures.

“One-hundred-year flood.” See definition for “Base flood.”

“Person” includes any individual or group of individuals, corporation, partnership, association, or any other entity, including State and local governments and agencies.

“Post-FIRM building” is a structure built after May 1, 1980, when the flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) first became effective in the City of Issaquah and associated construction standards were adopted under Ord. 1422 (replaced in 1981 by Ord. 1465).

“Recreational vehicle” means a vehicle which is:

“Reasonably safe from flooding” means development that is designed and built to be safe from flooding based on consideration of current flood elevation studies, historical data, high water marks, and other reliable data known to the community. In unnumbered A zones where flood elevation is not available and cannot be obtained by practicable means, reasonably safe from flooding means that the lowest floor is at or above the flood protection elevation.

“Start of construction” 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 building 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. For a substantial improvement, the actual start of construction means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of a building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.

“Structure” means a walled and roofed building including a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground, as well as a manufactured home.

“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 reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvement of an existing structure, the cumulative cost of which since the year 1980 equals or exceeds 50 percent of the current fair market value of the structure before the “start of construction” of the improvement. This term includes structures which have incurred “substantial damage,” regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:

“Variance” means a grant of relief from the requirements of this chapter which permits construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by this chapter.

“Water dependent” means a structure for commerce or industry which cannot exist in any other location and is dependent on the water by reason of the intrinsic nature of its operations.

“Water surface elevation” means the projected heights in relation to mean sea level reached by floods of various magnitudes and frequencies in the floodplains of shoreline or riverine areas. (Ord. 2989 § 3 (Exh. A3), 2022; Ord. 2915 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 2775 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016; Ord. 2420 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2065 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2030 § 6, 1994; Ord. 1827 § 2, 1989; Ord. 1465 § 3, 1981).