The general requirements of this article apply to all development proposed within special flood hazard areas identified in §
453-4.
All new construction of buildings and structures and substantial
improvements to existing buildings and structures, that are to be
located, in whole or in part, in special flood hazard areas shall
meet the following requirements.
A. Be designed (or modified) and constructed to safely resist flood
loads. The construction shall provide a complete load path capable
of transferring all loads from their point of origin through the load-resisting
elements to the foundation. Buildings and structures shall be designed,
connected and anchored to resist flotation, collapse or permanent
lateral movement due to structural loads and stresses from flooding
equal to the base flood elevation, including hydrodynamic and hydrostatic
loads and the effects of buoyancy.
B. Be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damage.
C. Use flood-damage-resistant materials below the elevation of the lowest
floor. All nails, bolts, screws and other fasteners exposed to salt
air shall be hot-dip galvanized to meet ASTM A 153/A 153M-09 [Standard
Specification for Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware].
Sheet metal connectors, such as wind anchors, joist hangers, and truss
plates, shall comply with the table attached hereto as Exhibit A (Corrosion-Resistant
Requirements for Sheet-Metal Connectors). See FEMA Technical Bulletin
No. 2, Flood Damage-Resistant Materials Requirements, and FEMA Technical
Bulletin No. 8, Corrosion Protection for Metal Connectors in Coastal
Areas.
D. Have electrical systems, equipment and components, and heating, ventilating,
air conditioning, and plumbing appliances, plumbing fixtures, duct
systems, and other service equipment located at or above the elevation
of the base flood elevation, plus 18 inches of freeboard. Electrical
wiring systems are permitted to be located below the elevation of
the lowest floor, provided that they conform to the provisions of
the electrical part of this code for wet locations. If replaced as
part of a substantial improvement, electrical systems, equipment and
components, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and plumbing
appliances, plumbing fixtures, duct systems, and other service equipment
shall meet the requirements of this section. See FEMA Technical Bulletin
No. 4, Elevator Installation.
[Amended 8-21-2015 by Ord. No. 516; 11-17-2017 by Ord. No. 535]
E. Utility connections servicing elevated buildings shall be attached
to the landward side of foundation elements. Electrical outlets shall
be placed in the ceiling or attached to pilings at or above the base
flood elevation plus 18 inches. For building access and occupant safety,
no more than two light switches are permitted below the base flood
elevation, provided the switches are protected by ground-fault circuits.
F. As an alternative to §
453-21D, electrical systems, equipment and components, and heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and plumbing appliances, plumbing fixtures, duct systems, and other service equipment are permitted to be located below the elevation of the lowest floor, provided that they are designed and installed to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components and to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and stresses, including the effects of buoyancy, during the occurrence of the base flood.
G. In special flood hazard areas other than coastal high-hazard areas (Zones AE and AO), meet the specific requirements of Article
V.
H. In all coastal high-hazard areas (Zone VE), meet the specific requirements of Article
VI.
I. In a special flood hazard area with more than one designation (Zones
AE and AO, floodway, Zones VE), meet the requirements of the most-restrictive
designation.
Recreational vehicles in special flood hazard areas shall be
fully licensed and ready for highway use and are permitted to be placed
on a site for up to seven days within any thirty-consecutive-day period.