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Portsmouth, Virginia, Code of Ordinances: PART II -CODE -Chapter 14.1 FLOOD PROTECTION 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, ar 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 foundations or the erection of temporary forms; nor does it include the installation on the property of accessary buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units ar not part of the main structure. For a substantial improvement, the actual start of the construction means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of a building, whether ar not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building. The term "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 the installation an 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 on any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of a building, whether or not the alteration affects the external dimensions of the building. Structure means, for floodpfain management purposes, a wailed and roofed building, including a gas or liquid storage tank, that is principally above ground, as well as a manufactured home Subsfarrtiai damage means damage of any origin sustained by a structure when the cast of restoring the structure to its pre-damage condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred. A structure that has been damaged two ormore times by flood events during any consecutive 10 year period with a cumulative building loss equal to or exceeding 50 percent of the market value before the damage shall also be considered a substantial damaged structure. Substantial improvement means any combination of repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure either before the improvement ar repair is started or, 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 at the structure. This term includes structures which have incurred repetitive foss or substantial damage regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either: (1) Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary or safety code requirements and which are the minimum necessary to ensure safe living conditions; or (2) Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places ar a state inventory of historic places, provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure. 8