Resolution 2025-075 – Resolution Setting as Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of an Updated Floodplain Management Ordinance for the City of Tiffin, Iowa.

30. “Routine maintenance of existing buildings and facilities” means repairs necessary to keep a structure in a safe and habitable condition that do not trigger a building permit, provided they are not associated with a general improvement of the structure or repair of a damaged structure. Such repairs include: A. Normal maintenance of structures such as re-roofing, replacing roofing tiles and replacing siding. B. Exterior and interior painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work. C. Basement sealing. D. Repairing or replacing damaged or broken window panes. E. Repairing plumbing systems, electrical systems, heating or air conditioning systems, and repairing wells or septic systems. 31. “Special Flood Hazard Area” (SFHA) means the land within a community subject to the base flood. This land is identified on the community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map as Zone A, A1- 30, AE, AH, AO, AR, and/or A99. 32. “Start of construction” includes substantial improvement, and means the date the development permit was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, placement, or other improvement, was within 180 days of the permit date. The actual start means either the first placement or permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as pouring of a slab or footings, the installation of pile, the construction of columns, or any work beyond the stage of excavation; or the placement of a factory-built 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 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 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 the building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building. 33. “Structure” means anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground, including (but not limited to) buildings, factories, sheds, cabins, factory-built homes, storage tanks, grain storage facilities, and/or other similar uses. 34. “Substantial damage” means damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before damage condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred. Volunteer labor and donated materials shall be included in the estimated cost of repair. (OPTIONAL LANGUAGE: Substantial damage also means flood-related damages sustained by a structure on two separate occasions during a 10-year period for which the cost of repairs at the time of such flood event, on the average, equals or exceeds 25 percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred. Volunteer labor and donated materials shall be included in the estimated cost of repair.) 35. “Substantial improvement” means any improvement to a structure which satisfies either of the following criteria: A. 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: (i) before the start of construction of the improvement; or (ii) if the structure has been substantially damaged and cty_hr_d_160.doc -4- 4/15/2021