§ 81-18General regulations.
§ 81-19Elevation and floodproofing requirements.
§ 81-20Design and construction standards.
§ 81-21Development which may endanger
human life.
§ 81-22Special requirements for mobile
homes.
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 municipality, and until all required permits or approvals have been first obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection, Dams and Waterways Management Bureau. In addition, the Federal Insurance Administrator and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Bureau of Community Planning, shall be notified by the municipality prior to any alteration or relocation of any watercourse.
Where a floodplain area has been identified which includes detailed flood profiles and elevation and a floodway area, the following provisions apply:
Within any FW (Floodway Area), no new construction, development, use, activity or encroachment of any kind shall be allowed, except where the rise in flood heights caused by the proposed development is fully offset by accompanying improvements. The floodway area is based on the criteria that the portion of the floodplain selected must be capable of carrying the waters of the one-hundred-year flood without increasing the water surface elevation of that flood more than one foot at any point. The floodway is shown on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Map accompanying the Flood Insurance Study (FIS). The areas included are specifically defined in the Floodway Data Table on the FIS itself.
Within any FF (Flood-Fringe Area), new construction and other development, uses and activities shall be allowed, provided that they are undertaken in strict compliance with the provisions contained in the chapter and any other applicable codes, ordinances and regulations.
Within any FA (General Floodplain Area), no new construction or development shall be located within the area measured 50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse.
Residential structures. Within any FW, FF or FA area, the lowest floor (including basement) of any new or improved residential structures shall be at least 1 1/2 feet above the one-hundred-year-flood elevation.
Nonresidential structures.
Within any FW, FF or FA area, the lowest floor (including basement) shall be at least 1 1/2 feet above the one-hundred-year-flood elevation or be designed and constructed so that the space enclosed by such structure shall remain either completely or essentially dry during any flood up to that height.
Any structure or part thereof which will not be completely or adequately elevated shall be designed and constructed to be completely or essentially dry in accordance with the standards contained in the publication entitled "Flood-Proofing Regulations" (United States Army Corps of Engineers, June 1972), or some other equivalent standard for that type of construction.
Fill. If fill is used, it shall:
Extend laterally at least 15 feet beyond the building line from all points;
Consist of soil or small rock material only; sanitary landfills shall not be permitted;
Be compacted to provide the necessary permeability and resistance to erosion, scouring or settling;
Be no steeper than one vertical to two horizontal unless substantiated data justifying steeper slopes is submitted to and approved by the Zoning Officer; and
Be used to the extent to which it does not adversely affect adjacent properties.
Drainage facilities. Storm drainage facilities shall be designed to convey the flow of stormwater runoff in a safe and efficient manner. The system shall ensure drainage at all points 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.
Sanitary sewer facilities. All new or replacement sanitary sewer facilities and private package sewage treatment plants (including all pumping stations and collector systems) shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters into the systems and discharges from the systems into the floodwaters. In addition, they should be located and constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damage and impairment.
Water facilities. All new or replacement water facilities shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters into the system, and be located and constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damage.
Streets. The finished elevation of proposed new streets shall be no more than one foot below the regulatory flood elevation.
Utilities. All utilities such as gas lines, electrical and telephone systems being placed in identified flood-prone areas should be located, elevated (where possible) and constructed to minimize the change of impairment during a flood.
Storage. No materials that are buoyant, flammable, explosive, or in times of flooding could be injurious to human, animal or plant life, shall be stored below the regulatory flood elevation.
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.
Anchoring.
All buildings and structures shall be firmly anchored in accordance with accepted engineering practices to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement.
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.
Floors, walls and ceilings.
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.
Plywood used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be of marine or water-resistant variety.
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.
Windows, doors, and other components at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be made of metal or other water-resistant material.
Paints and adhesives.
Paints or other finishes used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be of a marine or water-resistant quality.
Adhesives used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be of a marine or water-resistant quality.
All wooden components (doors, trim, cabinets, etc.) shall be finished with a marine or water-resistant paint or other finishing material.
Electrical systems and components.
Electric water heaters, furnaces, air-conditioning and ventilating systems and other electrical equipment or apparatus shall not be located below the regulatory flood elevation.
Electrical distribution panels shall be at least three feet above the one-hundred-year-flood elevation.
Separate electrical circuits shall serve lower levels and shall be dropped from above.
Plumbing.
Water heaters, furnaces and other mechanical equipment or apparatus shall not be located below the regulatory flood elevation.
No part of any on-site sewage disposal system shall be located within any identified floodplain area.
Water supply systems and sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to prevent the infiltration of floodwaters into the system and discharges from the system into floodwaters.
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.
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act,
Acetone.
Ammonia.
Benzene.
Calcium carbide.
Carbon disulfide.
Celluloid.
Chlorine.
Hydrochloric acid.
Magnesium.
Hydrocyanic acid.
Nitric acid and oxides of nitrogen.
Petroleum products (gasoline, fuel oil, etc.).
Phosphorus.
Potassium.
Sodium.
Sulphur and sulphur products.
Pesticides (including insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides).
Radioactive substances, insofar as such substances are not otherwise regulated.
Within any FW (Floodway Area), any structure of the kind described in Subsection A above shall be prohibited.
Where permitted, within any FF (Flood-Fringe Area) or FA (General Floodplain Area), any structure of the kind described in Subsection A above shall be:
Any such structure, or part thereof, that will be built below the regulatory flood elevation shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the standards for completely dry floodproofing contained in the publication Flood-Proofing Regulations (United States Army Corps of Engineers, June 1972), or with some other equivalent watertight standard.
Within any FW (Floodway Area), mobile homes shall be prohibited.
Within any FF (Flood-Fringe Area) or FA (General Floodplain Area), all mobile homes and any additions thereto shall be:
Anchored to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement by providing over-the-top and frame ties to ground anchors in accordance with the American National Standards as specified in the Standard for the Installation of Mobile Homes Including Mobile Home Park Requirements (NFPA No. 501A-1974) (ANSI A119. 3-1975) as amended for Mobile Homes in Hurricane Zones or other appropriate standards such as the following:
Over-the-top ties shall be provided at each of the four corners of the mobile home, with two additional ties per side at intermediate locations for units 50 feet or more in length, and one additional tie per side for units less than 50 feet in length.
Frame ties shall be provided at each corner of the mobile home, with five additional ties per side at intermediate locations for units 50 feet or more in length, and four additional ties per side for units less than 50 feet in length.
All components of the anchoring system shall be capable of carrying a force of 4,800 pounds.
Elevated in accordance with the following requirements:
The stands or lots shall be elevated on compacted fill or on pilings so that the lowest floor of the mobile home will be at or above the elevation of the regulatory flood.
Adequate surface drainage is provided.
Adequate access for a hauler is provided.
Where pilings are used for elevation, the lots shall be large enough to permit steps; piling foundations shall be placed in stable soil no more than 10 feet apart; reinforcement shall be provided for pilings that will extend for six feet or more above the ground level.
