This chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the Town of Putnam.
The areas of special flood hazard identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in its scientific and engineering report entitled Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for Windham County, Connecticut, dated September 7, 2023, and accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), dated September 7, 2023, and other supporting data applicable to the Town of Putnam, and any subsequent revisions thereto, are adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter. Since mapping is legally adopted by reference into this regulation it must take precedence when more restrictive until such time as a map amendment or map revision is obtained from FEMA. The areas of special flood hazard include any area shown on the FIRM as Zones A, AE, AO, and AH, including areas designated as a floodway on a FIRM. Areas of special flood hazard are determined utilizing the base flood elevations (BFE) provided on the flood profiles in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for a community. BFEs provided on Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) are only approximate (rounded up or down) and should be verified with the BFEs published in the FIS for a specific location. Also included are areas of potential, demonstrable or historical flooding, including any area contiguous with but outside the areas of special flood hazard identified by FEMA, and where the land surface elevation is lower than the base flood elevation (BFE) as shown in the FIS, and the area is not protected from flooding by a natural or man-made feature. The FIRM and FIS are on file at the office of the Putnam Town Clerk 200 School Street, Putnam, Connecticut.
A development permit shall be required in conformance with the provisions of this chapter prior to the commencement of any development activities.
A. 
No structure or land shall hereafter be located, extended, converted, or structurally altered without full compliance with the terms of this chapter and other applicable regulations.
B. 
All federal and state permits must be obtained.
This chapter is not intended to repeal, abrogate, or impair any existing easements, covenants, or deed restrictions. However, where this chapter and another conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent restrictions shall prevail.
In the interpretation and application of this chapter, all provisions shall be:
A. 
Considered as minimum requirements;
B. 
Liberally construed in favor of the governing body; and
C. 
Deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers granted under state statutes.
The degree of flood protection required by this chapter is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific and engineering considerations. Larger floods can and will occur on rare occasions. Flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes. This chapter does not imply that land outside the areas of special flood hazard or uses permitted within such areas will be free from flooding or flood damages. This chapter shall not create liability on the part of the Town of Putnam or any officer or employee thereof for any flood damages that result from reliance on this chapter, or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this chapter should be declared invalid for any reason whatsoever, such decision shall not affect the remaining portions of this chapter, which shall remain in full force and effect; and to this end the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared to be severable.