In all identified flood hazard areas where base flood elevations have been provided in the FIS or generated by a certified professional in accordance with §
63-15C, the following provisions shall apply:
A. Residential construction. New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) in Zones AE and A with detailed base flood elevations shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation (BFE), and, in VE Zones, shall have the lowest horizontal structural member elevated to or above the base flood elevation (BFE), per Article
III, §
63-15C(4).
B. Nonresidential construction. New construction or substantial improvement
of any commercial, industrial, or nonresidential building (or manufactured
home) shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to
or above the base flood elevation (BFE). Buildings located in all
AE Zones may be floodproofed in lieu of being elevated, provided that
all areas of the building components below the elevation corresponding
to the BFE are watertight with walls substantially impermeable to
the passage of water, and use structural components having the capability
of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and the effect of
buoyancy. A registered professional engineer or architect shall certify
that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. Such certification,
including the specific elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to
which such structures are floodproofed, shall be maintained by the
Floodplain Administrator.
C. Space below the lowest floor. In Zones A and AE, fully enclosed areas,
of new construction or substantially improved structures, which are
below the regulatory flood protection elevation (BFE) shall:
(1) Not be designed or used for human habitation, but shall only be used
for parking of vehicles, building access, or limited storage of maintenance
equipment used in connection with the premises. Access to the enclosed
area shall be the minimum necessary to allow for parking of vehicles
(garage door) or limited storage of maintenance equipment (standard
exterior door), or entry to the living area (stairway or elevator).
(2) Be constructed entirely of flood-resistant materials below the regulatory
flood protection elevation (base flood elevation);
(3) Include measures to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces
on walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters. To meet
this requirement, the openings must either be certified by a professional
engineer or architect or meet the following minimum design criteria:
(a)
Provide a minimum of two openings on different sides of each
enclosed area subject to flooding.
(b)
The total net area of all openings must be at least one square
inch for each square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding.
(c)
If a building has more than one enclosed area, each area must
have openings to allow floodwaters to automatically enter and exit.
(d)
The bottom of all required openings shall be no higher than
one foot above the adjacent grade.
(e)
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, or other opening
coverings or devices, provided they permit the automatic flow of floodwaters
in both directions.
(f)
Foundation enclosures made of flexible skirting are not considered
enclosures for regulatory purposes, and, therefore, do not require
openings. Masonry or wood underpinning, regardless of structural status,
is considered an enclosure and requires openings as outlined above.
D. Standards for manufactured homes and recreational vehicles.
(1) All manufactured homes placed, or substantially improved, on individual lots or parcels, must meet all the requirements for new construction, including the elevation and anchoring requirements in Article
IV, §§
63-17 and
63-18, and, if in the VE Zone, Article
III, §
63-15C(4).
(2) All recreational vehicles placed on sites must either:
(a)
Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully
licensed and ready for highway use (A recreational vehicle is ready
for highway use if it is on its wheels or jacking system, is attached
to the site only by quick-disconnect-type utilities and security devices
and has no permanently attached additions.); or
(b)
Meet all the requirements for manufactured homes in Article
IV, §
63-18D, and, if in the VE Zone, Article
III, § 65-15C(4).