The Building Official is hereby appointed to administer and
implement the provisions of this chapter.
Application for a development permit shall be made to the Building
Official on forms furnished by him or her prior to any development
activities, and may include, but not be limited to, the following
plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions,
and elevations of the area in question; existing or proposed structures,
fill, storage of materials, drainage facilities and the location of
the foregoing. Specifically, the following information is required:
A.
Application stage.
(1)
Requirements.
(a)
Elevation in relation to mean sea level of the proposed lowest floor (including basement) of all structures [§ 211-19A(1)].
(b)
Elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed [§ 211-19A(2)(b)].
(c)
Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered
or relocated as a result of proposed development.
(d)
A statement as to whether or not the proposed alterations to
an existing structure meets the criteria of the substantial improvement
definition.
(e)
A statement as to whether there will be a dry access to the
structure during the 100-year storm event.
(2)
Where applicable, the following certifications by a registered engineer
or architect are required and must be provided to the Building Official.
The design and methods of construction must be certified to be in
accordance with accepted standards of practice.
(a)
Nonresidential floodproofing: must meet the provisions of § 211-19A(2).
(b)
Enclosed areas below the base flood elevation: If the minimum design criteria in § 211-19B(1) through (3) are not used, then the design and construction methods must be certified as explained in § 211-19B(1).
(c)
No increase in floodway heights may be allowed. Any development in a floodway must meet the provisions of § 211-19C.
(d)
Breakaway walls.
[1]
Nonsupporting breakaway walls, lattice work or mesh screening
shall be allowed below the base flood elevation, provided it is not
part of the structural support of the building and is designed so
as to break away, under abnormally high tides or wave action, without
damage to the structural integrity of the building on which it is
to be used and provided the following design specifications are met:
[a]
Design safe loading resistance of each wall shall
not be less than 10 pounds per square foot nor more than 20 pounds
per square foot; or
[b]
If more than 20 pounds per square foot, a registered
professional engineer or architect shall certify that the design wall
collapse would result from a water load less than that which would
occur during the base flood event, and the elevated portion of the
building and supporting foundation system shall not be subject to
collapse, displacement, or other structural damage due to the effects
of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components
during the base flood event. Maximum wind and water loading values
to be used in this determination shall each have a 1% chance of being
equaled or exceeded in any given year (100-year mean recurrence interval).
[2]
If breakaway walls, lattice work or screening are utilized,
the resulting enclosed space shall not be designed to be used for
human habitation, but shall be designed to be used only for parking
of vehicles, building access, or limited storage of maintenance equipment
used in connection with the premises.
[3]
Prior to construction, plans for any structures that will have
breakaway walls, lattice work or screening must be submitted to the
Building Official for approval.
[4]
Any alteration, repair, reconstruction, or improvement to a
structure shall not enclose the space below the lowest floor except
with breakaway walls, lattice work, or screening.
(e)
Structural anchoring. All new construction or substantial improvement
shall be securely anchored on pilings or columns.
[1]
All pilings and columns and the attached structures shall be
anchored to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement due to
the effect of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building
components. The anchoring and support system shall be designed with
wind and water loading values which equal or exceed the 100-year mean
recurrence interval (1% annual chance floods and winds).
[2]
A registered professional engineer or architect shall review
and/or develop structural design specifications and plans for the
construction and shall certify that the design, specifications and
plans for construction are in accordance with acceptable standards.
(3)
Construction stage. Upon completion of the applicable portion of
construction, the applicant shall provide verification to the Building
Official of the following as applicable:
(4)
Lowest floor elevation. The elevation to be verified for:
(a)
A structure in a numbered A Zone is the top of the lowest floor (including basement) [§ 211-19A(1)].
(b)
A structure which has been floodproofed is the elevation to which the floodproofing is effective [§ 211-19A(2)].
(5)
Deficiencies detected by the review of the above listed shall be
corrected by the permit holder immediately and prior to further progressive
work being permitted to proceed. Failure to submit the survey or failure
to make said corrections required hereby shall be cause to issue a
stop-work order for the project.
Duties of the Building Official shall include, but not be limited
to:
A.
Review all permit applications to determine whether proposed building
sites will be reasonably safe from flooding;
B.
Review all development permits to assure that the permit requirements
of this chapter have been satisfied;
C.
Advise the permittee that additional federal or state permits may
be required, and if specific federal or state permit requirements
are known, require that copies of such permits be provided and maintained
on file with the development permit. Possible required permits include,
but are not limited to: coastal area management permit, water diversion,
dam safety, and Corps of Engineers 404;
D.
Notify the Council of Governments/Regional Planning Agency and the
affected municipality at least 35 days' prior to the public hearing
if any change of regulation or use of a flood zone will affect an
area within 500 feet of another municipality;
E.
Notify adjacent communities and the Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection, Land and Water Resources Division, prior to any alteration
or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification
to the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
F.
Assure that maintenance is provided within the altered or relocated
portion of said watercourse so that the flood-carrying capacity is
not diminished:
G.
Record the elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new or substantially improved structures, in accordance with § 211-19A(1);
H.
Record the elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which the new or substantially improved structures have been floodproofed, in accordance with § 211-19A(2);
I.
When floodproofing is utilized for a particular structure, the Building Official shall obtain certification from a registered professional engineer or architect, in accordance with § 211-19A(2);
J.
Where interpretation is needed as to the exact location of boundaries
of the areas of special flood hazard (for example, where there appears
to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions),
the Building Official shall make the necessary interpretation. The
person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable
opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in this article;
K.
When base flood elevation data or floodway data have not been provided, then the Building Official shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other source in order to administer the provisions of Article V; and
L.
All records pertaining to the provisions of this chapter shall be
maintained in the office of the Building Official.
