72.1.1. 
The Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has, by the passage of the Pennsylvania Flood Plain Management Act of 1978,[1] delegated the responsibility to local governmental units to adopt floodplain management regulations to promote public health, safety, and the general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Bethel Park does hereby order as follows.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 679.101 et seq.
72.2.1. 
Title. This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "Bethel Park Municipal Floodplain Management Ordinance."
72.2.2. 
Purpose. The purpose of this ordinance is to:
1. 
Protect human life, health, safety and welfare in the Municipality.
2. 
Encourage the utilization of appropriate construction practices in order to prevent or minimize flood damage in the future.
3. 
Minimize danger to public health by protecting water supply and natural drainage.
4. 
Reduce financial burdens imposed on the community, its governmental units, and its residents, by preventing excessive development in areas subject to flooding.
5. 
Comply with federal and state floodplain management requirements.
72.3.1. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, any construction, grading or land development anywhere within a floodplain, flood hazard area or floodway within the Municipality, without first obtaining all of the required permits from the Municipality and/or other governmental agencies.
72.4.1. 
This ordinance supersedes any other conflicting provisions which may be in effect in identified floodplain areas. However, any other ordinance provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the extent that those provisions are more restrictive. If there is any conflict between any of the provisions of this ordinance, the more restrictive shall apply.
72.5.1. 
The provisions of this ordinance shall be severable; and if any of its provisions shall be held to be unconstitutional, illegal, or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of any of the remaining provisions of this ordinance. It is hereby declared as a legislative intent that this ordinance would have been adopted had such unconstitutional, illegal, or invalid provision not been included herein.
72.6.1. 
The degree of flood protection sought by the provisions of this ordinance is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on acceptable engineering methods of study. Larger floods may occur. Flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes, such as ice jams and bridge openings restricted by debris. This ordinance does not imply that areas outside any identified floodplain areas, or that land uses permitted within such areas, will be free from flooding or flood damages. This ordinance shall not create liability on the part of the Municipality or any officer or employee thereof for any flood damages that result from reliance on this ordinance or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.
72.7.1. 
Any ordinance or part of any ordinance conflicting with the provisions of this ordinance shall be, and the same are hereby, repealed to the extent of such conflict, and specifically Ordinances 5-13-85A, 6-8-81A, 6-8-81B, 12-4-81A and 6-8-81C.