(A) Residential construction. New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) shall have the reference level, including basement, elevated no lower than the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation, as defined in § 150.05.
(B) Non-residential construction. New construction and substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial, or other non-residential structure shall have the reference level, including basement, elevated no lower than the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation, as defined in § 150.05. Structures located in A, AE, AD, and A1-30 Zones may be floodproofed to the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation in lieu of elevation provided that all areas of the structure, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, below the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation are watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water, using structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and the effect of buoyancy. For AD Zones, the floodproofing elevation shall be in accordance with § 150.45(C)(2). A registered professional engineer or architect shall certify that the floodproofing standards of this section are satisfied. The certification shall be provided to the Floodplain Administrator as set forth in § 150.26(C), along with the operational plan and the inspection and maintenance plan.
(C) Manufactured homes.
(1) New and replacement manufactured homes shall be elevated so that the reference level of the manufactured home is no lower than the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation, as defined in § 150.05.
(2) Manufactured homes shall be securely anchored to an adequately anchored foundation to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement, either by certified engineered foundation system, or in accordance with the most current edition of the State of North Carolina Regulations for Manufactured Homes adopted by the Commissioner of Insurance pursuant to G.S. §143-143.15. Additionally, when the elevation would be met by an elevation of the chassis 36 inches or less above the grade at the site, the chassis shall be supported by reinforced piers or engineered foundation. When the elevation of the chassis is above 36 inches in height, an engineering certification is required.
(3) All enclosures or skirting below the lowest floor shall meet the requirements of division (D) below.
(4) An evacuation plan must be developed for evacuation of all residents of all new, substantially improved or substantially damaged manufactured home parks or subdivisions located within flood prone areas. This plan shall be filed with and approved by the Floodplain Administrator and the local Emergency Management Coordinator.
(D) Elevated buildings. Fully enclosed area, of new construction and substantially improved structures, which is below the lowest floor:
(1) Shall not be designed or used for human habitation, but shall only be used for parking of vehicles, building access, or limited storage of maintenance equipment used in connection with the premises. Access to the enclosed area shall be the minimum necessary to allow for parking of vehicles (garage door) or limited storage of maintenance equipment (standard exterior door), or entry to the living area (stairway or elevator). The interior portion of the enclosed area shall not be finished or partitioned into separate rooms, except to enclose storage areas;
(2) Shall be constructed entirely of flood resistant materials at least to the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation; and
(3) Shall include, in Zones A, AO, AE, 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 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 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 above the 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.
(E) 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; and
(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 post-FIRM structures 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 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; and
(b) A substantial improvement, both the existing structure and the addition and/or improvements must comply with the standards for new construction.
(F) Recreational vehicles. Recreational vehicles shall either:
(1) 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); and/or
(2) Meet all the requirements for new construction of divisions (H)(1) through (5) below.
(G) Recreational vehicle parks of subdivisions.
(1) Prior to the issuance of a floodplain development permit for a recreational vehicle park:
(a) RV park developers, owners, and operators shall prepare and maintain a current comprehensive Emergency Evacuation Plan defining how, when, and where all vehicles are to be removed to a safe location during approaching storm, flood, or hazard events. The Emergency Evacuation Plan shall be submitted to the Cherokee County Emergency Management Department and approved prior to the issuance of a floodplain development permit.
(b) All RV park emergency evacuation plans must be updated annually and submitted to the Cherokee County Emergency Department for approval.
(c) The Emergency Evacuation Plan for each RV Park having property in the special flood hazard area shall be implemented and supported by a written set of park regulations. The park regulations shall be submitted for review and approval along with the Emergency Evacuation Plan prior to the issuance of a floodplain development permit.
(d) Approval of the Emergency Evacuation Plan and the park regulations does not relieve the RV park owner or land owner of any responsibility or liability for providing the maximum practical extent of protection against downstream loss of life or property when RVs are resident on the site. Neither does the approval of the Emergency Evacuation Plan and the park regulations create or transfer any liability to the Town of Murphy and any of its employees or agents.
(2) The park regulations shall include at a minimum the following requirements.
(a) A set of keys to the RV and a current contact telephone number must be in the possession of the RV park owner or operator at all times the RV is parked on a site in the special flood hazard area.
(b) The owner of the RV must sign a release of liability available from the RV park owner giving the RV park owner or operator the right to evacuate the owner's RV(s) to a safe location or to anchor/tether the RV(s) in case of flood warning and the owner is away from the site. The release form shall notify the RV owner that under flooding conditions, the RV may be damaged or destroyed.
(3) Known hazards disclosure. The RV park owner is responsible for posting a sign at the utility connection station on each RV parking site advising the RV owner that the site is located within a FEMA-designated special flood hazard area and is subject to damage or loss of property and life during a flood event. Further, the sign on each site shall advise the RV owner of the potential water depth at the site during a Base Flood Event (Base Flood Elevation minus the local grade elevation where the RV is parked). If the RV park owner elects to state a single water depth to standardize the maximum water depth on the entire RV park shall be listed.
(4) Inspections.
(a) The Town of Murphy has the right to access all RV parks and RV parking sites at any time for the purpose of a compliance inspection. A compliance inspection will determine if the requirements of the Emergency Evacuation Plan and the park regulations are current and are being enforced by the RV park owner or operator.
(b) Non-conforming items or a finding of non-compliance shall result in a written notice of violation (NOV). The RV park owner shall have a maximum of 30 calendar days to correct the deficiencies and to bring the RV park back into full compliance.
(c) Failure to correct an NOV in the proscribed time limit shall result in a fine not to exceed $5,000 per day for every calendar day that the RV park is found to be out of compliance with the approved plans and regulations.
(d) Nothing herein shall prevent the town from seeking other enforcement remedies as provided in § 150.99.
(5) Existing RV parks and subdivisions for which any part of the property is located in the special flood hazard area. The owner of an existing RV park or subdivision shall prepare an Emergency Evacuation Plan and file it with the Floodplain Administrator and Cherokee County Emergency Management Coordinator for review and approval no later than 12 months after the effective date of this chapter. The known hazards disclosure requirements of division (G)(4) above shall be met no later than 12 months after the effective date of this chapter. After receiving approval of the Emergency Evacuation Plan, the owner (or manager/operator) of the facility shall have seven years to bring the existing RV park or subdivision into compliance with all the requirements of the ordinance. Failure to file an Emergency Evacuation Plan for approval shall be a violation and subject to the penalties defined in § 150.99.
(H) Temporary non-residential structures. Prior to the issuance of a floodplain development permit for a temporary structure, the applicant must submit to the Floodplain Administrator a plan for the removal of the structure(s) in the event of a hurricane, flash flood, or other type of flood warning notification. The following information shall be submitted in writing to the Floodplain Administrator for review and written approval:
(1) A specified time period for which the temporary use will be permitted. Time specified may not exceed six months, renewable up to one year;
(2) The name, address, and phone number of the individual responsible for the removal of the temporary structure;
(3) The time frame prior to the event at which a structure will be removed (i.e. minimum of 72 hours before landfall of a hurricane or immediately upon flood warning notification);
(4) A copy of the contract or other suitable instrument with the entity responsible for physical removal of the structure; and
(5) Designation, accompanied by documentation, of a location outside the special flood hazard area, to which the temporary structure will be moved.
(I) Accessory structures.
(1) When accessory structures (sheds, detached garages and the like) are to be placed within a special flood hazard area, the following criteria shall be met:
(a) Accessory structures shall not be used for human habitation (including working, sleeping, living, cooking, or restroom areas);
(b) Accessory structures shall not be temperature-controlled;
(c) Accessory structures shall be designed to have low flood damage potential;
(d) Accessory structures shall be constructed and placed on the building site so as to offer the minimum resistance to the flow of floodwaters;
(e) Accessory structures shall be firmly anchored in accordance with the provisions of § 150.40(A);
(f) All service facilities such as electrical shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of § 150.40(D); and
(g) Flood openings to facilitate automatic equalization of hydrostatic flood forces shall be provided below Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation in conformance with the provisions of § 150.41(D)(3).
(2) An accessory structure with a footprint less than 150 square feet that satisfies the criteria outlined above does not require an elevation or floodproofing certificate. Elevation or floodproofing certifications are required for all other accessory structures in accordance with § 150.26(C).
(J) Accessory structures defined as "low cost". Accessory structures meeting the "low cost" definition may be constructed within SFHA utilizing wet floodproofing method as outlined in FEMA Technical Bulletin 7-93 and shall comply with divisions (I)(1) through (7) above.
(Ord. passed 11-3-2008; Am. Ord. passed 5-3-2021)s (I)(1) through (7) above.