§ 81-22 BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES.

   New buildings and structures (including the placement and replacement of manufactured homes) and substantial improvement of existing structures (including manufactured homes) that are located, in whole or in part, in any special flood hazard area shall:

   (A)   Be designed (or modified) and constructed to safely support flood loads. The construction shall provide a complete load path capable of transferring all loads from their point of origin through the load-resisting elements to the foundation. Structures shall be designed, connected and anchored to resist flotation, collapse or permanent lateral movement due to structural loads and stresses, including hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads and the effects of buoyancy, from flooding equal to the flood protection elevation or the elevation required by these regulations or the Building Code, whichever is higher.

   (B)   Be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damage.

   (C)   Use flood damage-resistant materials below the elevation of the lowest floor required in § 81-34(A) or 81-35(A) (for A Zones) or § 81-40(B) (for V Zones and Coastal A Zones).

   (D)   Have electrical systems, equipment and components, and mechanical, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and plumbing appliances, plumbing fixtures, duct systems, and other service equipment located at or above the elevation of the lowest floor required in § 81-34(A) or 81-35(A) (for A Zones) or § 81-40(B) (V Zones and Coastal A Zones). Electrical wiring systems are permitted to be located below elevation of the lowest floor provided they conform to the provisions of the electrical part of the building code for wet locations. If replaced as part of a substantial improvement, electrical systems, equipment and components, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and plumbing appliances, plumbing fixtures, duct systems, and other service equipment shall meet the requirements of this section.

   (E)   As an alternative to division (D) above, electrical systems, equipment and components, and heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and plumbing appliances, plumbing fixtures, duct systems, and other service equipment are permitted to be located below the elevation of the lowest floor provided they are designed and installed to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components and to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and stresses, including the effects of buoyancy, during the occurrence of flooding to that elevation.

   (F)   Have the electric panelboard elevated at least three feet above the BFE.

   (G)   If located in flood hazard areas (A Zones) that are not identified as Coastal A Zones and coastal high hazard areas (V Zones), comply with the specific requirements of §§ 81-31 through 81-37.

   (H)   If located in Coastal A Zone, comply with the specific requirements of:

      (1)   §§ 81-38 through 81-43 (new construction and placement of new manufactured homes); or

      (2)   §§ 81-31 through 81-37 (substantial improvements [including repair of substantial damage] and replacement manufactured homes).

   (I)   If located in coastal high hazard areas (V Zones), comply with the specific requirements of §§ 81-38 through 81-43.

   (J)   Comply with the requirements of the most restrictive designation if located on a site that has more than one flood zone designation (A Zone, designated floodway, Coastal A Zone, V Zone).

(Ord. 02-2014, passed 4-21-2014)