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Fabrication shop: an establishment for the creation of products from refined materials.

Facade: the exterior wall of a building.

Family: one (1) or more persons related by blood, adoption, or marriage, or a group of persons not related by blood, adoption, or marriage, living together as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit. Facilities housing individuals who are incarcerated as the result of a conviction or other court order shall not be included within this definition of “family.”

Family childcare: see Family daycare.

FCC: the Federal Communications Commission or successor agency.

Feather sign or feather flag: a sign made of flexible material that is generally, but not always, rectangular in shape and attached to a pole on one (1) side so the sign can move with the wind.

Fence: a manmade exterior barrier erected to enclose, screen or separate areas of land. Vegetation, such as a hedge, is not a fence.

Fence, open: a fence where there is a minimum of one (1) inch opening for every two (2) inches of solid material evenly distributed across the length of the fence.

Fence, solid: a fence with no openings or openings less than one (1) inch wide or with less than one (1) inch opening for every two (2) inches of solid material.

Fill: the addition of soil, sand, rock, gravel, sediment, or any other earthen or organic material to an area in a manner that raises the elevation of, or creates, dry land.

Final plat: the final drawing of a subdivision and dedication prepared for filing for record with the County Auditor.

Fitness center: an establishment whose primary function is the provision of services, equipment, instruction, and facilities for physical exercise.

Flood or flooding:

1. A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:

a. The overflow of inland or tidal waters; and/or

b. The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source.

c. Mudslides (i.e., mudflows) which are proximately caused by flooding as defined in subsection (1)(b) of this definition and are similar to a river of liquid and flowing mud on the surfaces of normally dry land areas, as when earth is carried by a current of water and deposited along the path of the current.

2. The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm, or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as flash flood or an abnormal tidal surge, or by some similarly unusual and unforeseeable event which results in flooding as defined in subsection (1)(a) of this definition.

Flood hazard area, special (“Special flood hazard area”): the land in the floodplain that is subject to a one (1) percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year.

Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM): 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.

Flood Insurance Study (FIS): 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: any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source. See “Flood” or “flooding.”

Floodplain Administrator: the City of Snohomish official designated to administer and enforce the floodplain management regulations.

Floodplain management: the operation of an overall program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood damage, including but not limited to emergency preparedness plans, flood control works, and floodplain management regulations.

Floodplain management regulations: state or local regulations, in any combination thereof, which provide standards for the purpose of flood damage prevention and reduction.

Floodproofing: any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes or adjustments to properties and structures, which reduces or eliminates flood damages to lands, water and sanitary facilities, structures and contents of buildings.

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 elevation by more than one (1) foot. Also referred to as “regulatory floodway.”

Floor area: the floor space defined by the exterior walls of a building or structure as measured in square feet.

Floor area, gross: the sum of all floor spaces defined by exterior walls, including unoccupied accessory areas, basements, and mezzanines on all floor levels.

Floor area ratio: the ratio of a building’s gross floor area to the size of the lot upon which it is built.

Forecourt private frontage: a private frontage type wherein a portion of the facade is close to the frontage line and the central portion is set back. (See SMC 14.212.1010).

Forest research: the development, advancement, and dissemination of the science and technology of forest conservation and associated resources.

Foster home: a residence licensed by the state to provide care on a twenty-four (24) hour basis to at least one (1) but not more than six (6) unrelated persons under the age of eighteen (18) years.

Fraternity, sorority, or group student house: a building occupied by and maintained exclusively for students affiliated with an academic or professional college or university or other recognized institution of higher learning and when regulated by such institution.

Freestanding sign: a sign standing directly upon the ground and being detached from any building or similar structure.

Frontage: the area between a building facade and the centerline of the adjacent street, inclusive of its built and planted components. Frontage is divided into the private frontage and the public frontage.

Frontage coverage: the minimum percentage of the length of the principal frontage occupied by the primary facade(s) within the front setback.

Frontage improvements: improvements to rights-of-way abutting a development. Generally, frontage improvements consist of appropriate base materials, lane paving, bus pullouts and waiting areas where necessary, bicycle lanes and bicycle paths where applicable, storm drainage improvements, curbs, gutters and sidewalks.

Frontage line: a property line that coincides with the edge or margin of the street (not alley) public right-of-way.

Frontage, private: see Private frontage.

Frontage, public: see Public frontage.

Fuel dealers: establishments engaged in the business of delivering, distributing, or offering for sale any gasoline, kerosene, distillate, road oil, lubricating oil, petroleum, or greases or any oil and/or gas product except prepackaged petroleum products.

Functionally dependent use: 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.

Functions and values, critical areas: the services provided by critical areas to society, including, but not limited to, improving and maintaining water quality, providing fish and wildlife habitat, supporting terrestrial and aquatic food chains, reducing flooding and erosive flows, wave attenuation, historical or archaeological importance, educational opportunities, and recreation.

Funeral home/crematory: an establishment providing services to arrange and conduct for funerals and memorial services, including care, preparation, disposition, and cremation of deceased persons.

Future Land Use Map: the official City of Snohomish map which is a part of the Comprehensive Plan, and which defines the boundaries of the land use designations. (Ord. 2401, 2020; Ord. 2429, 2021; Ord. 2425, 2022; Ord. 2434, 2022)