The requirements of this section apply to new construction of residential structures and to substantial improvements of residential structures in zones A, A1-30, AE, AO, and AH, when designated on the community's effective FIRM, and when designated on a preliminary or final FIRM issued by FEMA under the circumstances provided in § 154.037.
(A) New construction and substantial improvements shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy. Where a structure, including its foundation members, is elevated on fill to or above the base flood elevation, the requirements for anchoring (division (A)) and construction materials resistant to flood damage (division (B)) are satisfied.
(B) New construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with methods and materials resistant to flood damage.
(C) New construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities that are designed and/or elevated so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.
(D) New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure, including manufactured homes, shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the flood protection elevation. Where flood protection elevation data are not available the structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent natural grade.
(E) New construction and substantial improvements, including manufactured homes, that do not have basements and that are elevated to the flood protection elevation using pilings, columns, posts, or solid foundation perimeter walls with openings to allow the automatic equalization of hydrostatic pressure may have an enclosure below the lowest floor provided the enclosure meets the following standards:
(1) Be used only for the parking of vehicles, building access, or storage;
(2) Be designed and certified by a registered professional engineer or architect to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters; or
(3) Have a minimum of two openings on different walls having a total net area not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area, and the bottom of all such openings being no higher than one foot above grade. The openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
(F) Manufactured homes shall be affixed to a permanent foundation and anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy. Methods of anchoring may include, but are not limited to, use of over-the-top or frame ties to ground anchors.
(G) Repair or rehabilitation of historic structures upon a determination that the proposed repair or rehabilitation will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure and is the minimum necessary to preserve the historic character and design of the structure, shall be exempt from the development standards of this section.
(Ord. O-26-10, passed 11-8-2010; Ord. O-9-23, passed 4-10-2023)