(A) The intent of this chapter in establishing a Floodplain District includes the following:
(1) Promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare;
(2) Conservation of the value of land and buildings throughout the county;
(3) Generally enhancing aesthetic values throughout the county;
(4) Prevention of unwise developments in the flood hazard areas and prevention of developments increasing the flood or drainage hazards to others;
(5) Protection of new buildings and major improvements to buildings from flood damage;
(6) Protection of human life and health from the hazards of flooding;
(7) Lessening the burden on the taxpayers for flood control projects, repairs to flood damaged public and private buildings, facilities and utilities, and flood rescue and relief operations;
(8) Maintenance of property values and a stable tax base by minimizing the potential for creating flood blight areas;
(9) Making federally subsidized flood insurance available for properties located in the unincorporated areas of the county; and
(10) Providing for the sensible, orderly growth and development of an environment that is especially sensitive to changes and encroachment from human activity.
(B) All lands located in the unincorporated area of the county which are shown to be within the special flood hazard areas shall be subject to the standards, regulations and procedures established and contained in this chapter.
(1) Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the application of these regulations to lands which can be demonstrated by a competent engineering study to lie inside the SFHA; conversely, any lands which can be demonstrated by a competent engineering study to lie outside the SFHA may not be subject to these regulations. If a particular owner(s), after a determination by the Administrator, disputes whether a parcel or parcels of land are within the SFHA, it shall be the responsibility of those particular owner(s) of the land to prove whether or not the land in question is outside the SFHA.
(2) Where not otherwise prohibited in this chapter, all buildings shall have all habitable and usable floor areas, including basements at an elevation at least three feet above the base flood elevation. All mechanical equipment, plumbing, electrical and other utility areas of a building shall also be at least three feet above the base flood elevation.
(3) All underground utilities such as water, sewer and electric lines shall be located or constructed to resist and to insulate the utilities from flood hazards.
(4) Development in the floodway which causes or creates any increase in the base flood elevation shall be prohibited.
(C) The degree of flood protection required by this section is considered for regulatory purposes and is based on the available information derived from engineering and scientific methods of study. Larger floods may occur or flood heights may be increased by human-made or natural causes. This section does not imply that development either inside or outside the special flood hazard area will be free from flooding or damage. This section does not create liability on the part of the county or any officer or employee thereof for any flood damage that results from reliance on this section or any administrative decision made lawfully thereunder.
(Prior Code, § 152.052) (Ord. passed 3-9-1976; Ord. passed 9-14-1989) Penalty, § 155.999