These regulations shall be known as the "Floodplain Management
Ordinance of the City of South Pasadena," hereinafter referred to
as "this chapter."
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all development
that is wholly within or partially within any flood hazard area, including
but not limited to the subdivision of land; filling, grading, and
other site improvements and utility installations; construction, alteration,
remodeling, enlargement, improvement, replacement, repair, relocation
or demolition of buildings, structures, and facilities that are exempt
from the Florida Building Code; placement, installation, or replacement
of manufactured homes and manufactured buildings; installation or
replacement of tanks; placement of recreational vehicles; installation
of swimming pools; and any other development.
The purposes of this chapter and the flood load and flood-resistant
construction requirements of the Florida Building Code are to establish
minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety, and general
welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to flooding
through regulation of development in flood hazard areas to:
A. Minimize unnecessary disruption of commerce, access and public service
during times of flooding;
B. Require the use of appropriate construction practices in order to
prevent or minimize future flood damage;
C. Manage filling, grading, dredging, mining, paving, excavation, drilling
operations, storage of equipment or materials, and other development
which may increase flood damage or erosion potential;
D. Manage the alteration of flood hazard areas, watercourses, and shorelines
to minimize the impact of development on the natural and beneficial
functions of the floodplain;
E. Minimize damage to public and private facilities and utilities;
F. Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and
development of flood hazard areas;
G. Minimize the need for future expenditure of public funds for flood
control projects and response to and recovery from flood events; and
H. Meet the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program for
community participation as set forth in 44 CFR 59.22.
This chapter is intended to be administered and enforced in
conjunction with the Florida Building Code. Where cited, ASCE 24 refers
to the edition of the standard that is referenced by the Florida Building
Code.
The degree of flood protection required by this chapter and
the Florida Building Code, as amended by this community, is considered
the minimum reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific
and engineering considerations. Larger floods can and will occur.
Flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes. This
chapter does not imply that land outside of mapped special flood hazard
areas, or that uses permitted within such flood hazard areas, will
be free from flooding or flood damage. The flood hazard areas and
base flood elevations contained in the Flood Insurance Study and shown
on Flood Insurance Rate Maps and the requirements of 44 CFR 59 and
60 may be revised by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, requiring
this community to revise these regulations to remain eligible for
participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. No guaranty
of vested use, existing use, or future use is implied or expressed
by compliance with this chapter.
This chapter shall not create liability on the part of the South
Pasadena City Commission, the City of South Pasadena or by any officer
or employee thereof for any flood damage that results from reliance
on this chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.