Development within special flood hazard areas

(a)

No new construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure shall be permitted in special flood hazard areas, and no permit referred to in section 20-3 of this chapter shall be issued therefor, unless said new construction or substantial improvement has the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the level of the base flood elevation (100-year flood) plus one foot of freeboard

(b)

No new construction or substantial improvement of any nonresidential structure shall be permitted in special flood hazard areas, and no building permit referred to in section 20-3 of this chapter shall be issued therefor, unless said new construction or substantial improvement has the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the level of the base flood elevation (100-year flood) plus one foot of freeboard, or if the lowest permitted floor level of such nonresidential structure (including basement) is below the base flood elevation level then such nonresidential structure together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities shall be designed with dry floodproofing to or above the level of the base flood elevation (100-year flood) plus one foot of freeboard; provided that the lowest floor of such nonresidential structure is in compliance with subsection 20-3(11) (excluding basement). Where floodproofing is utilized for a particular structure, a registered professional engineer or architect shall certify that the floodproofing methods are adequate to withstand the flood depth, pressures, velocities, impact and uplift forces associated with the base flood elevation, and a record of such certificates indicating the specific elevation as measured in reference to NAVD 88 to which such structure is floodproofed shall be maintained with the building official or his/her designee.

(1)

Direct access to the common areas for dwelling units or dwelling units shall be elevated to above the level of the base flood elevation (100-year flood) plus one foot of freeboard and dry flood proofing shall be restricted to independent commercial areas.

(2)

Designs shall not prevent access to the common areas of dwelling units, and designs for dry floodproofing shall require measures or system components that do not require human intervention or action before the onset of flooding to be effective.

(3)

The lowest point of a basement entrance shall be at a minimum above the base elevation or the level of the base flood elevation (100-year flood), whichever is higher plus one foot of freeboard.

(c)

All electrical, heating, air conditioning equipment, ventilation, plumbing, and other service facilities, including duct work, shall be elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot.

(d)

All manufactured homes placed, replaced, or substantially improved shall be elevated so that:

(1)

The bottom of the frame of the manufactured home is elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard;

(2)

The manufactured home chassis is supported by reinforced piers or other foundation elements of at least an equivalent strength; and

(3)

The manufactured home shall be securely anchored to the adequately anchored foundation system to resist flotation, collapse and lateral movement.

(e)

All recreational vehicles placed on sites shall meet the requirements of subsection 20-5(k) herein.

(f)

Elevated buildings. New construction and substantial improvements that include fully enclosed areas formed by foundations and other exterior walls below the lowest floor shall have the enclosed areas designed only for parking, limited storage, and building access and the walls shall have openings to allow for the entry and exit of floodwaters to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls. Designs for complying with this requirement must either be certified by a professional engineer or architect or meet the following minimum criteria:

(1)

Provide a minimum of two openings having a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding;

(2)

The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade;

(3)

Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves or other coverings or devices provided they permit the automatic flow of floodwaters in both directions; and

(4)

Access to the enclosed area shall be the minimum necessary to allow for parking of vehicles (garage door) or limited storage of maintenance equipment used in connection with the premises (standard exterior door) or entry to the living area (stairway or elevator).

(Ord. No. 14039, § 2, 12-9-21; Ord. No. 14295, § 2, 7-11-24)