11-1-5-1: GENERAL STANDARDS:
In all Special Flood Hazard Areas the following provisions are required:
   A.   All new construction and substantial improvements shall be designed (or modified) and adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, and lateral movement of the structure.
   B.   All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage in accordance with the Technical Bulletin 2, Flood Damage-Resistant Materials Requirements, and available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
   C.   All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damages.
   D.   All new and replacement electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, air conditioning equipment, and other service facilities shall be designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding to the Flood Protection Elevation. These include, but are not limited to, HVAC equipment, water softener units, bath/kitchen fixtures, ductwork, electric/gas meter panels/boxes, utility/cable boxes, hot water heaters, and electric outlets/switches.
   E.   All new and replacement water supply systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters into the system.
   F.   All new and replacement sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters into the systems and discharges from the systems into flood waters.
   G.   On-site waste disposal systems shall be located and constructed to avoid impairment to them or contamination from them during flooding.
   H.   A fully enclosed area, of new construction and substantially improved structures, which is below the lowest floor shall:
      1.   Be constructed entirely of flood resistant materials at least to the Flood Protection Elevation; and
      2.   Include, in Zones A, AE, AH, AO, and A1-30, flood openings to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters. To meet this requirement, the openings must either be certified by a professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum design criteria:
         a.   A minimum of two (2) flood openings on different sides of each enclosed area subject to flooding;
         b.   The total net area of all flood openings must be at least one (1) square inch for each square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding;
         c.   If a building has more than one enclosed area, each enclosed area must have flood openings to allow floodwaters to automatically enter and exit;
         d.   The bottom of all required flood openings shall be no higher than one foot (1') above the interior or exterior adjacent grade;
         e.   Flood openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, or other coverings or devices, provided they permit the automatic flow of floodwaters in both directions; and
         f.   Enclosures made of flexible skirting are not considered enclosures for regulatory purposes, and, therefore, do not require flood openings. Masonry or wood underpinning, regardless of structural status, is considered an enclosure and requires flood openings as outlined above.
   I.   Any alteration, repair, reconstruction, or improvements to a structure, which is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, shall meet the requirements of "new construction" as contained in this chapter.
   J.   Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the repair, reconstruction, or replacement of a building or structure existing on the effective date of this chapter and located totally or partially within the floodway, flood fringe area, or stream setback, provided there is no additional encroachment below the Flood Protection Elevation in the floodway, flood fringe area, or stream setback, and provided that such repair, reconstruction, or replacement meets all of the other requirements of this chapter.
   K.   New solid waste disposal facilities and sites, hazardous waste management facilities, salvage yards, and chemical storage facilities shall not be permitted, except by variance as specified in subsection 11-1-4-4I. A structure or tank for chemical or fuel storage incidental to an allowed use or to the operation of a water treatment plant or wastewater treatment facility may be located in a Special Flood Hazard Area only if the structure or tank is either elevated or floodproofed to at least the Flood Protection Elevation and certified in accordance with the provisions of subsection 11-1-4-3C.
   L.   All subdivision proposals and other development proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage and determined to be reasonably safe from flooding.
   M.   All subdivision proposals and other development proposals shall have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water systems located and constructed to minimize flood damage.
   N.   All subdivision proposals and other development proposals shall have adequate drainage provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards.
   O.   All subdivision proposals and other development proposals shall have received all necessary permits from those governmental agencies for which approval is required by Federal or State law, including Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 USC § 1334.
   P.   When a structure is partially located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the entire structure shall meet the requirements for new construction and substantial improvements.
   Q.   When a structure is located in multiple flood hazard zones or in a flood hazard risk zone with multiple base flood elevations, the provisions for the more restrictive flood hazard risk zone and the highest Base Flood Elevation (BFE) shall apply.
   R.   Fill is prohibited in the SFHA, including construction of buildings on fill. This includes not approving Conditional Letters or Letters of Map Revision (CLOMR-F or LOMR-F). (Ord. 249, 8-17-2016)