15-14
STANDARDS OF CONSTRUCTION:

In all areas of special flood hazards the following are required:

a. Anchoring:

1. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure resulting from gydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy.

2. All manufactured homes shall meet the anchoring standards.

b. Construction Materials And Methods:

1. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage.

2. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed using methods and practices that minimize flood.

3. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air-conditioning equipment and other service facilities that are designed or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.

4. Required within Zone AH, AO, AR/AH, or AR/AO, adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes to guide flood waters around and away from the proposed structures.

c. Elevations And Floodproofing:

1. New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Nonresidential structures may meet the standards in subsection c3 of this Section. Upon the completion of the structure the elevation of the lowest floor including basement shall be certified by a registered professional engineer or surveyor, or verified by the community Building Inspector to be properly elevated. Such certification shall be provided to the Floodplain Administrator.

2. New construction and substantial improvements of any structure in Zone AR, AR/AH, or AR/AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet (2') if no depth number is specified. Nonresidential structures may meet the standards in subsection c3 of this Section. Upon the completion of the structure the elevation of the lowest floor including basement shall be certified by a registered professional engineer or surveyor, or verified by the community Building Inspector to be properly elevated. Such certification or verification shall be provided to the Floodplain Administrator.

3. Nonresidential construction shall either be elevated in conformance with subsection c1 of this Section or together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities:

(a) Be floodproofed so that below the base flood level the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water.

(b) Have structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and gydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy.

(c) Be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. Such certifications shall be provided to the Floodplain Administrator.

4. Require, for all new construction and substantial improvements, that fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor 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 architect and meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:

(a) Either a minimum of two (2) 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. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot (1') above grade. 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.

(b) Be certified to comply with a local floodproofing standard approved by the Federal Insurance Administration.

5. Manufactured homes shall also meet the standards in Section 15-17 of this Chapter.

6. For AR Zone requirements, see Section 15-18A of this Chapter. (Code 1972 §12 1/2-15; Ord. #1095, §1; Ord. #1298, §3; Ord. #1301, §12 1/2-16; Ord. #1485, §§6-8)