The special flood hazard areas identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Federal Insurance Administration in a scientific and engineering report entitled "Flood Insurance Study for the City of Ojai," dated October 17, 1978, and revised April 19, 1983, with an accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Map dated October 17, 1978, as well as all future or subsequent revisions, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter. Said Flood Insurance Study is on file at the City Hall, 401 South Ventura Street, Ojai, California. Said Flood Insurance Study is the minimum area of applicability of this chapter and may be supplemented by studies for other areas which allow the implementation of this chapter and which are recommended to the Council by the Floodplain Administrator.
(§ 1, Ord. 655, eff. May 19, 1988, as amended by § 1, Ord. 699, eff. October 15, 1993, § 2, Ord. 914, eff. March 24, 2021)
No structure or land shall hereafter be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered without full compliance with the terms of this chapter and other applicable regulations. Violations of the provisions of this chapter by failure to comply with any of its requirements (including violations of conditions and safeguards established in connection with conditions) shall constitute a misdemeanor. Nothing set forth in this chapter shall prevent the Council from taking such lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.
(§ 1, Ord. 655, eff. May 19, 1988)
This chapter is not intended to repeal, abrogate, or impair any existing easements, covenants, or deed restrictions. However, where this chapter and another chapter, easement, covenant, or deed restriction conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent restrictions shall prevail.
(§ 1, Ord. 655, eff. May 19, 1988)
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 power granted under State statutes.
(§ 1, Ord. 655, eff. May 19, 1988)
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 special flood hazard areas 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 City, or any officer or employee thereof, or the Federal Insurance Administration for any flood damage which results from reliance on this chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made pursuant to this chapter.
(§ 1, Ord. 655, eff. May 19, 1988)
This chapter and the various parts thereof are hereby declared to be severable. Should any section of this chapter be declared by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this chapter as a whole, or any portion thereof, other than the section so declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.
(§ 1, Ord. 655, eff. May 19, 1988)