Kansas Administrative Regulations
Agency 5 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
Article 44 - FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
Section 5-44-1 - Floodplain management; definitions

Universal Citation: KS Admin Regs 5-44-1

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 12, March 20, 2024

As used in these regulations, K.S.A. 12-766, and by the division of water resources in administering K.S.A. 12-766, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section:

(a) "Basement" means any area of a building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides.

(b) "Chief engineer" means the chief engineer of the division of water resources, Kansas state board of agriculture.

(c) "Development" means any man-made change to real estate, including, but not limited to:

(1) buildings or other structures;

(2) mining;

(3) dredging;

(4) filling;

(5) grading;

(6) paving;

(7) excavation or drilling; or

(8) storage of equipment or materials.

(d) "Flood or flooding" means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land from:

(1) the overflow of waters normally confined between the banks of a stream or other watercourse, or

(2) the unusual, rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.

(e) "Regulatory 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 one foot.

(f) "Lowest floor" means the lowest enclosed area, including a basement, of a building. An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement is not considered a building's lowest floor.

(g) "Permit" means a signed document from a designated community official authorizing development in a floodplain, including all necessary supporting documentation such as:

(1) the site plan;

(2) an elevation certificate; and

(3) any other necessary or applicable approvals or authorizations from local, state or federal authorities.

(h) "Structure" means a walled and roofed building, a manufactured house, or above ground gas or liquid storage tank.

(i) "Substantially improved" means any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition to or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the improvement.

(j) "Variance" means a grant of relief by a community from the terms of a floodplain management zoning regulation.

(k) "Flood hazard map" means the document adopted by the governing body showing the limits of:

(1) the floodplain;

(2) the floodway;

(3) streets;

(4) stream channel; and

(5) other geographic features.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Kansas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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