These regulations, in conjunction with the Uniform Construction Code, provide minimum requirements for development located in flood hazard areas, including the subdivision of land and other developments; site improvements and installation of utilities; placement and replacement of manufactured homes; placement of recreational vehicles; new construction and alterations, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation or additions of existing buildings and structures; substantial improvement of existing buildings and structures, including repair of substantial damage; installation of tanks; temporary structures and temporary or permanent storage; utility and miscellaneous Group U buildings and structures; and certain building work exempt from permits under the Uniform Construction Code; and other buildings and development activities.
A. 
The Township of Howell was accepted for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program on January 6, 1983.
B. 
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) floodplain management regulations encourage that all federal, state, and local regulations that are more stringent than the minimum NFIP standards take precedence in permitting decisions. The FHACA requires that the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map, most recent preliminary FEMA mapping and flood studies, and Department delineations be compared to determine the most restrictive mapping. The FHACA also regulates unstudied flood hazard areas in watersheds measuring 50 acres or greater in size and most riparian zones in New Jersey. Because of these higher standards, the regulated flood hazard area in New Jersey may be more expansive and more restrictive than the FEMA special flood hazard area. Maps and studies that establish flood hazard areas are on file at the office of the Construction Official at 4567 Route 9, Community Development Department, Second Floor, Howell, NJ 07731.
C. 
The following sources identify flood hazard areas in this jurisdiction and must be considered when determining the best available flood hazard data area:
(1) 
Effective flood insurance study. Special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a scientific and engineering report entitled "Flood Insurance Study, Monmouth County, New Jersey (All Jurisdictions)," dated September 25, 2009, and revised on June 20, 2018, and June 15, 2022, and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) identified in Table 154-2.2C(1), whose effective date is September 25, 2009, are hereby adopted by reference.
Table 154-2.2C(1)
Map Panel No.
Effective Date
Revision Letter
Map Panel No.
Effective Date
Revision Letter
34025C0163
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0304
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0164
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0310
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0168
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0311
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0282
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0312
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0284
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0313
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0292
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0314
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0294
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0320
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0301
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0430
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0303
September 25, 2009
F
34025C0435
September 25, 2009
F
(2) 
Federal best available information. The Township of Howell shall utilize federal flood information as listed in the table below that provides more detailed hazard information, higher flood elevations, larger flood hazard areas, and results in more restrictive regulations. This information may include but is not limited to preliminary flood elevation guidance from FEMA (such as Advisory Flood Hazard Area Maps, Work Maps or Preliminary FIS and FIRM). Additional federal best available studies issued after the date of this chapter must also be considered. These studies are listed on FEMA's Map Service Center. This information shall be used for floodplain regulation purposes only.
Table 154-2.2C(2)
Map Panel No.
Preliminary Date
Map Panel No.
Preliminary Date
N/A
N/A
 
 
 
(3) 
Other best available data. The Township of Howell shall utilize high water elevations from flood events, groundwater flooding areas, studies by federal or state agencies, or other information deemed appropriate by the Township of Howell. Other "best available information" may not be used which results in less restrictive flood elevations, design standards, or smaller flood hazard areas than the sources described in § 154-2.2C(1) and (2), above. This information shall be used for floodplain regulation purposes only.
(4) 
State-regulated flood hazard areas. For state-regulated waters, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) identifies the flood hazard area as the land, and the space above that land, which lies below the Flood Hazard Area Control Act design flood elevation, as defined in Article IX, and as described in the New Jersey Flood Hazard Area Control Act at N.J.A.C. 7:13. An FHACA flood hazard area exists along every regulated water that has a drainage area of 50 acres or greater. Such area may extend beyond the boundaries of the special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) as identified by FEMA. The following is a list of New Jersey State studied waters in this community under the FHACA, and their respective map identification numbers.
Table 154-2.2C(4), List of State Studied Waters
Name of Studied Water
File Name
Map Number
Trib E
SUPPIX10
10
Manasquan Rv
V0000e003
Sheet 3
Manasquan Rv, Bill's Bk
V0000004
Sheet 4
Manasquan Rv, Bannen Meadow Bk
V0000005
Sheet 5
Manasquan Rv, Bannen Meadow Bk, Long Bk
V0000006
Sheet 6
Manasquan Rv, Bannen Meadow Bk, Long Bk
V0000007
Sheet 7
Long Bk
V0000008
Sheet 8
Long Bk
V0000009
Sheet 9
Metedeconk Rv, Gravelly Run, Haystack Bk
V0000010
Sheet 10
N Branch Metedeconk Rv
V0000011
Sheet 11
N Branch Metedeconk Rv
V0000012
Sheet 12
N Branch Metedeconk Rv
V0000013
Sheet 13
N Branch Metedeconk Rv
V0000014
Sheet 14
N Branch Metedeconk Rv
V0000015
Sheet 15
N Branch Metedeconk Rv
V0000016
Sheet 16
N Branch Metedeconk Rv
V0000016
Sheet 16
Haystack Bk
V0000017
Sheet 17
Haystack Bk, Ground Hog Bk, Polipod Bk
V0000018
Sheet 18
Haystack Bk
V0000019
Sheet 19
Manasquan Rv, DeBois Ck, Trib to Manasquan Rv "B", Trib to Manasquan Rv "C"
V0000032
Sheet 8
Trib to Manasquan Rv "C", DeBois Ck, Trib to DeBois Ck, Applegate Ck, Burkes Ck
V0000035
Sheet 11
DeBois Ck, Trib to DeBois Ck, Applegate Ck, Burkes Ck
V0000036
Sheet 12
Metedeconk Rv
V0000068
Sheet 4
Metedeconk Rv
V0000069
Sheet 5
Metedeconk Rv
V0000070
Sheet 6
Manasquan River
V0000020p
Sheet 20
Long Brook
V0000021p
Sheet 21
Gravelly Run
V0000021p
Sheet 21
Billy's Brook
V0000021p
Sheet 21
Bannen Madow Brook
V0000021p
Sheet 21
Polypod Brook
V0000022p
Sheet 22
Groundhog Brook
V0000022p
Sheet 22
Haystack Brook Branch 1 & 2
V0000022p
Sheet 22
North Branch Metedeconk River B
V0000023p
Sheet 23
North Branch Metedeconk River A
V0000023p
Sheet 23
North Branch Metedeconk River D
V0000024p
Sheet 24
North Branch Metedeconk River C
V0000024p
Sheet 24
Manasquan River
V0000039p
Sheet 15
Burkes Creek
V0000041p
Sheet 17
North Branch Metedeconk River C
V0000072p
Sheet 8
North Branch Metedeconk River D
V0000072p
Sheet 8
A. 
The local design flood elevation (LDFE) is established in the flood hazard areas determined in § 154-2.2, above, using the best available flood hazard data sources, and the Flood Hazard Area Control Act minimum statewide elevation requirements for lowest floors in A, Coastal A, and V Zones, ASCE 24 requirements for critical facilities as specified by the Building Code, plus additional freeboard as specified by this chapter.
B. 
At a minimum, the local design flood elevation shall be as follows:
(1) 
For a delineated watercourse, the elevation associated with the best available flood hazard data area determined in § 154-2.2 above plus one foot or as described by N.J.A.C. 7:13 of freeboard; or
(2) 
For any undelineated watercourse [where mapping or studies described in § 154-2.2C(1) and (2) above are not available] that has a contributory drainage area of 50 acres or more, the applicants must provide one of the following to determine the local design flood elevation:
(a) 
A copy of an unexpired NJDEP flood hazard area verification plus one foot of freeboard and any additional freeboard as required by ASCE 24; or
(b) 
A determination of the flood hazard area design flood elevation using Method 5 or Method 6 (as described in N.J.A.C. 7:13) plus one foot of freeboard and any additional freeboard as required by ASCE 24. Any determination using these methods must be sealed and submitted according to § 154-5.2A(3).
(3) 
AO Zones. For Zone AO areas on the municipality's FIRM (or on preliminary flood elevation guidance from FEMA), the local design flood elevation is determined from the FIRM panel as the highest adjacent grade plus the depth number specified plus one foot of freeboard. If no depth number is specified, the local design flood elevation is three feet above the highest adjacent grade.
(4) 
Class IV critical facilities. For any proposed development of new and substantially improved flood design Class IV critical facilities, the local design flood elevation must be the higher of the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood elevation or the flood hazard area design flood elevation with an additional two feet of freeboard in accordance with ASCE 24.
(5) 
Class III critical facilities. For proposed development of new and substantially improved flood design Class III critical facilities in coastal high hazard areas, the local design flood elevation must be the higher of the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood elevation or the flood hazard area design flood elevation with an additional one foot of freeboard in accordance with ASCE 24.