(A) Residential Construction:
1. New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above base flood elevation.
2. Fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are subject to flooding are prohibited, or shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit of flood waters. Use of such a space is limited to parking, access or storage. Designs for meeting this requirement must be either certified by a registered professional engineer or architect or must meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
a. A minimum of two (2) openings having a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be provided;
b. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot (1') above grade.
c. Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, or other coverings or devices provided they permit the automatic entry and exit of flood waters.
(B) Nonresidential Construction: New construction and substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial, or other nonresidential structure shall either have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to the level of the base flood elevation; or, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, shall:
1. Be floodproofed so that below the base flood level the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water;
2. Have structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy; and
3. Be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. Such certifications shall be provided to the official as set forth in subsection 5-17-4-3(C)1.
4. Nonresidential structures that are elevated, not floodproofed, must meet the same standards for space below the lowest floor as described in subsection 5-17-5-2(A).
5. Applicants floodproofing nonresidential buildings shall be notified that flood insurance premiums will be based on rates that are one foot (1') below the floodproofed level (e.g. a building constructed to the base flood level will be rates as 1 foot below that level).
(C) Encroachments: Any proposed development shall be analyzed to determine effects on the flood carrying capacity of the areas of special flood hazard, as set forth in subsection 5-17-4-3(A)3, Permit Review.
(D) Additions/Improvements.
1. Additions and/or improvements to pre-FIRM structures when the addition and/or improvements in combination with any interior modifications to the existing structure are:
a. Not a substantial improvement, the addition and/or improvements must be designed to minimize flood damages and must not be any more non-conforming than the existing structure; or
b. A substantial improvement, both the existing structure and the addition and/or improvements must comply with the standards for new construction.
2. Additions to non-compliant post-FIRM structures that are a substantial improvement with no modifications to the existing structure other than a standard door in the common wall shall require only the addition to comply with the standards for new construction.
3. Additions and/or improvements to non-compliant post-FIRM structures when the addition and/or improvements in combination with any interior modifications to the existing structure are:
a. Not a substantial improvement, the addition and/or improvements only must comply with the standards for new construction; or
b. A substantial improvement, both the existing structure and the addition and/or improvements must comply with the standards for new construction.
(E) Recreational Vehicles. Recreational vehicles shall be either:
1. Temporary Placement:
a. Be on site for fewer than 180 consecutive days and be fully licensed and ready for highway use (a recreational vehicle is ready for highway use if it is on its wheels or jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick disconnect type utilities, and has no permanently attached additions): or
2. Permanent Placement:
a. Recreational vehicles that do not meet the limitations of Temporary Placement shall meet all the requirements for new construction, as set forth in 5-17-5-1. (Ord. 964, 7-20-1981; amd. Ord. 1008, 4-20-1987; Ord. 1393, 5-3-2022)