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A. Alteration or relocation of watercourse.
(1) No encroachment, alteration, or improvement of any kind shall be made to any watercourse until all adjacent municipalities which may be affected by such action have been notified by the City, and until all required permits or approvals have been first obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection Regional Office.
(2) No encroachment, alteration, or improvement of any kind shall be made to any watercourse unless it can be shown that the activity will not reduce or impede the flood-carrying capacity of the watercourse in any way.
(3) In addition, FEMA and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Department shall be notified prior to any alteration or relocation of any watercourse.
B. Alteration or changes to the base flood elevation. Technical or scientific data shall be submitted by the applicant to FEMA for a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR), or a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), or other activity resulting in changes in the BFE. The situations when a LOMR or a CLOMR are required are:
(1) For any development that will cause any rise in the base flood elevations within the Floodway Subdistrict;
(2) For any development occurring in the Zone A Subdistrict or Zone AE Without Floodway Subdistrict, which will cause a rise of more than one foot in the base flood elevation; or
(3) For alteration or relocation of a stream (including but not limited to installing culverts and bridges).
C. Alterations to the floodway.
(1) Within the Zone A Subdistrict or the Shallow Flooding Subdistrict, no new construction or development shall be located within the area measured 50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse, unless a water obstruction permit is obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
(2) For development in the Floodway Subdistrict and the Zone AE Without Floodway Subdistrict, refer to § 600-1818.
D. Any new construction, development, uses or activities allowed within any identified floodplain area or within the Floodplain Overlay Zone shall be undertaken in strict compliance with the provisions contained in this Part and all other applicable codes, ordinances and regulations.
A. Residential structures.
(1) Within the Zone AE Without Floodway Subdistrict, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least 1 1/2 feet above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE).
(2) Within the Zone A Subdistrict, where there are no Base Flood Elevations specified on the FIRM, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to least 1 1/2 feet above the BFE, determined in accordance with § 600-1818C of this Part.
(3) Within Shallow Flooding Subdistrict (if applicable), any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) at or above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the flood depth number specified on the FIRM.
(4) The design and construction standards and specifications contained in Chapter 180, Construction Codes, Chapter 295, Historic Districts, and Chapter 302, House Numbering, shall be utilized.
B. Nonresidential structures.
(1) Within the Zone AE Without Floodway Subdistrict, any new construction or substantial improvement of a nonresidential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to least 1 1/2 feet above the BFE.
(2) In the Zone A Subdistrict, where no Base Flood Elevations are specified on the FIRM, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated or completely floodproofed to least 1 1/2 feet above the BFE, determined in accordance with section § 600-1818C of this Part.
(3) In Zone AO (if applicable), any new construction or substantial improvement shall have their lowest floor elevated or completely floodproofed above the highest adjacent grade to at least as high as the flood depth number specified on the FIRM.
(4) Any nonresidential structure, or part thereof, made watertight below the BFE shall be floodproofed in accordance with the WI or W2 space classification standards contained in the publication entitled "Flood-Proofing Regulations" published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (June 1972, as amended March 1992) or with some other equivalent standard. All plans and specifications for such floodproofing shall be accompanied by a statement certified by a registered professional engineer or architect which states that the proposed design and methods of construction are in conformance with the above referenced standards.
(5) The design and construction standards and specifications contained in Chapter 180, Construction Codes, Chapter 295, Historic Districts, and Chapter 302, House Numbering, shall be utilized.
C. Space below the lowest floor.
(1) Fully enclosed space below the lowest floor (excluding basements) which will be used solely for the parking of a vehicle, building access, or incidental storage in an area other than a basement, shall be designed and constructed to allow for the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters for the purpose of equalizing hydrostatic forces on exterior walls. The term "fully enclosed space" also includes crawl spaces.
(2) Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect, or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
(a) A minimum of two openings having a net total area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed space;
(b) The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade;
(c) Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, etc. or other coverings or devices, provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
D. Historic structures. See Part 22, Definitions, for requirements for the substantial improvement of any historic structures.
E. Accessory structures shall meet the requirements of these regulations.
The following minimum standards shall apply for all construction and development proposed within the Floodplain Overlay Zone, except for development within the Floodway Subdistrict:
A. Fill.
(1) Disposal of fill, including but not limited to rubble, construction debris, woody debris, and trash, shall not be permitted in the Floodplain Overlay Zone.
(2) If engineered fill is used for building purposes, it shall meet all of the FEMA development criteria, including but not limited to:
(a) Extend laterally at least 15 feet beyond the building line from all points;
(b) Consist of soil or small rock materials only; sanitary landfills shall not be permitted;
(c) Be compacted and stabilized to provide the necessary permeability and resistance to erosion, scouring, and settling;
(d) Be no steeper than one vertical to two horizontal, feet unless substantiated data, justifying steeper slopes are submitted to, and approved by the Floodplain Administrator; and
(e) Be used to the extent to which it does not adversely affect adjacent properties.
(3) Any proposed development, including fill, proposed within the Floodway Subdistrict shall comply with § 600-1818.
B. Drainage facilities. Storm drainage facilities shall be designed to convey the flow of stormwater runoff in a safe and efficient manner. The system shall insure proper drainage along streets, and provide positive drainage away from buildings. The system shall also be designed to prevent the discharge of excess runoff onto adjacent properties.
C. Water and sanitary sewer facilities and systems.
(1) All new or replacement water supply and sanitary sewer facilities and systems shall be located, designed and constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damages and the infiltration of floodwaters.
(2) Sanitary sewer facilities and systems shall be designed to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage into floodwaters.
(3) No part of any on-site sewage system shall be located within any identified floodplain area except in strict compliance with all state and local regulations for such systems. If any such system is permitted, it shall be located so as to avoid impairment to it, or contamination from it, during a flood.
(4) The design and construction provisions of the UCC and FEMA No. 348, Protecting Building Utilities From Flood Damages, and The International Private Sewage Disposal Code, shall be utilized.
D. Other utilities. All other utilities such as gas lines, electrical and telephone systems shall be located, elevated (where possible) and constructed to minimize the chance of impairment during a flood.
E. Streets. The finished elevation of all new streets shall be no more than one foot below the regulatory food elevation.
F. Storage. All materials that are buoyant, flammable, explosive, or in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal, or plant life, and which are not listed in § 600-1825, Development which may endanger human life, shall be stored at or above the regulatory flood elevation or floodproofed to the maximum extent possible.
G. Placement of buildings and structures. All buildings and structures shall be designed, located, and constructed so as to offer the minimum obstruction to the flow of water and shall be designed to have a minimum effect upon the flow and height of floodwater.
H. Anchoring.
(1) All buildings and structures shall be firmly anchored in accordance with accepted engineering practices to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement.
(2) All air ducts, large pipes, storage tanks, and other similar objects or components located below the regulatory flood elevation shall be securely anchored or affixed to prevent flotation.
I. Floors, walls and ceilings.
(1) Wood flooring used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be installed to accommodate a lateral expansion of the flooring, perpendicular to the flooring grain without causing structural damage to the building.
(2) Plywood used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be of a "marine" or "water-resistant" variety.
(3) Walls and ceilings at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be designed and constructed of materials that are water-resistant and will withstand inundation.
(4) Windows, doors, and other components at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be made of metal or other water-resistant material.
J. Paints and adhesives.
(1) Paints and other finishes used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be of marine or water-resistant quality.
(2) Adhesives used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be of a marine or water-resistant variety.
(3) All wooden components (doors, trim, cabinets, etc.) used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be finished with a marine or water-resistant paint or other finishing material.
K. Electrical components.
(1) Electrical distribution panels shall be at least three feet above the base flood elevation.
(2) Separate electrical circuits shall serve lower levels and shall be dropped from above.
L. Equipment. Water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning and ventilating units, and other electrical, mechanical or utility equipment or apparatus shall not be located below the regulatory flood elevation.
M. Fuel supply systems. All gas and oil supply systems shall be designed to prevent the infiltration of floodwaters into the system and discharges from the system into floodwaters. Additional provisions shall be made for the drainage of these systems in the event that floodwater infiltration occurs.
N. Uniform Construction code coordination. The Standards and Specifications contained in 34 Pa. Code (Chapters 401 through 405), as amended, and not limited to the following provisions, shall apply to the above and other sections of this Part, to the extent that they are more restrictive and supplement the requirements of this Part:
(1) International Building Code (IBC) 2009 or the latest edition thereof: Secs. 801, 1202, 1403, 1603, 1605, 1612, 3402, and Appendix G.
(2) International Residential Building Code (IRC) 2009 or the latest edition thereof: Secs. R104, R105, R109, R323, Appendix AE101, Appendix E and Appendix J.
A. In accordance with the Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act,
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and the regulations adopted by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as required by the Act, any new or substantially improved structure which: will be used for the production or storage of any of the following dangerous materials or substances; or, will be used for any activity requiring the maintenance of a supply of more than 550 gallons, or other comparable volume, of any of the following dangerous materials or substances on the premises; or, will involve the production, storage, or use of any amount of radioactive substances; shall be prohibited within the Floodplain Overlay Zone.
B. The following list of materials and substances are considered dangerous to human and/or aquatic life:
(1) Acetone.
(2) Ammonia.
(3) Benzene.
(4) Calcium carbide.
(5) Carbon disulfide.
(6) Celluloid.
(7) Chlorine.
(8) Hydrochloric acid.
(9) Hydrocyanic acid.
(10) Magnesium.
(11) Nitric acid and oxides of nitrogen.
(12) Petroleum products (gasoline, fuel oil, etc.).
(13) Phosphorus.
(14) Potassium.
(15) Sodium.
(16) Sulphur and sulphur products.
(17) Pesticides (including insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides).
(18) Radioactive substances, insofar as such substances are not otherwise regulated.
37. Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 679.101 et seq.
All subdivision proposals and development proposals containing at least 50 lots or at least five acres, whichever is the lesser, in the Floodplain Overlay Zone where base flood elevation data are not available, shall be supported by hydrologic and hydraulic engineering analyses that determine base flood elevations and floodway information. The analyses shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer in a format required by FEMA for a Conditional Letter of Map Revision or Letter of Map Revision. Submittal requirements and processing fees shall be the responsibility of the applicant.
A. Within the Floodplain Overlay Zone, manufactured homes shall be prohibited within the floodway or the area measured 50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse.
B. Where permitted within the Floodplain Overlay Zone, all manufactured homes, and any improvements thereto, shall be:
(1) Placed on a permanent foundation;
(2) Elevated so that the lowest floor of the manufactured home is at least 1 1/2 feet above base flood elevation; and
(3) Anchored to resist flotation, collapse, or lateral movement.
C. Installation of manufactured homes shall be done in accordance with the manufacturers' installation instructions as provided by the manufacturer. Where the applicant cannot provide the above information, the requirements of Appendix E of the 2009 International Residential Building Code or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Permanent Foundations for Manufactured Housing, 1984 Edition, draft or latest revision thereto, shall apply and 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405.
D. Consideration shall be given to the installation requirements of the 2009 IBC, and the 2009 IRC or the most recent revisions thereto and 34 Pa. Code, as amended where appropriate and/or applicable to units where the manufacturers' standards for anchoring cannot be provided or were not established for the unit(s) proposed installation.
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