A. New construction and substantial improvement of any habitable structure, either residential or nonresidential, shall have the lowest floor, including the basement, or in the case of manufactured housing the lowest structural member, elevated at or above the regulatory flood elevation, which is one-foot above the base flood elevation. Certification of elevation shall be required pursuant to Section 16.20.070.
B. New construction and substantial improvement of any habitable structure, either residential or nonresidential, in a numbered AO zone (AO1, AO2, AO3, etc.) shall have the lowest floor, including basement, or in the case of manufactured housing the lowest structural member, elevated above highest adjacent natural grade at least one-foot higher than the depth designated by the numbered zone on the FIRM, or at least two feet above highest adjacent natural grade if no depth number is specified. Certification of elevation shall be required pursuant to Section 16.20.070.
C. In sheet flooding or ponding areas, such as zones AO and AH, require drainage paths around structures on slopes to guide water away from structures.
D. Non-residential, non-habitable structures shall either be elevated in conformance with subsections A. and B., or together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities:
1. Be flood proofed so that below the regulatory flood elevation the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water;
2. Have structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy; and
3. Be certified by an Arizona registered engineer or architect that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. Such certifications shall be provided to the floodplain administrator on a form approved by the district.
E. All new construction and substantial improvements with fully enclosed areas below the regulatory flood elevation that are useable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or limited storage in an area other than a basement and which are subject to flooding shall be constructed of flood resistant materials to the regulatory flood elevation, have all service facilities elevated at or above the regulatory flood elevation, and 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 an Arizona registered civil engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
1. A minimum of two openings on different sides of each enclosed area that have a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be provided;
2. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one-foot above grade; and
3. 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.
F. Manufactured homes shall meet the above standards and also the standards in Section 16.34.
(Ord. 2010-FC5 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 2005 FC-2 § 2 (part), 2005)