(A) Residential buildings.
(1) All new or substantially improved residential structures shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated a minimum of one foot above the 100-year flood level. Construction shall be upon compacted fill which shall, at all points, be no lower than one foot above the 100-year flood level and extend at such elevation at least 18 feet beyond the limits of any structure erected thereon. Alternate methods of elevating (such as piers) may be allowed subject to favorable consideration by the Board of Adjustment, where existing topography, street grades or other factors preclude elevating by fill. In such cases, the methods used must be adequate to support the structure as well as withstand the various forces and hazards associated with flooding.
(2) All new residential structures shall be provided with a means of access which will be passable by wheeled vehicles during the 100-year flood.
(B) Non-residential buildings. All new or substantially improved non-residential buildings shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated a minimum of one foot above the 100-year flood level, or together with attendant utility and sanitary systems, be flood-proofed to such a level. When flood- proofing is utilized, a professional engineer registered in the state shall certify that the flood-proofing methods used are adequate to withstand the flood depths, pressures, velocities, impact and uplift forces and other factors associated with the 100-year flood; and that the structure, below the 100-year flood level is water-tight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water. A record of the certification indicating the specific elevation (in relation to North American Vertical Datum) to which any structures are flood-proofed shall be maintained by the Administrator.
(C) All new and substantially improved structures.
(1) Fully-enclosed areas below the “lowest floor” (not including basements) that are subject to flooding shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit of flood waters. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered professional engineer or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria.
(a) A minimum of two openings having a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be provided.
(b) The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade.
(c) Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves or other coverings or devices; provided that, they permit the automatic entry and exit of flood waters.
(d) Such areas shall be used solely for parking of vehicles, building access and low damage potential storage.
(2) New and substantially improved structures must be designed (or modified) and adequately anchored to prevent floatation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy.
(3) New and substantially improved structures must be constructed with electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities that are designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.
(2011 Code, § 34.04050.16) (Ord. 2343, passed 9-17-2018)