A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in KCC § 14.08.040. The permit shall be for all structures including manufactured homes, as set forth in definitions (KCC § 14.08.020), and for all development including fill and other activities, also as set forth in definitions (KCC § 14.08.020).
(Ord. 93-18 § 4.1, 1993; Ord. 2001-03)
The Kittitas County Public Works Director is appointed to administer and implement this chapter by granting or denying floodplain development permit applications in accordance with its provisions. The Floodplain Administrator may delegate authority to implement these provisions.
Duties of the Floodplain Administrator shall include but not be limited to:
1. 
Interpretations of the flood insurance rate maps (FIRM), and floodplain and floodway field designations. The Kittitas County Public Works Department shall maintain and keep all files and related information regarding the county's National Flood Insurance Program eligibility.
2. 
Field verification of lowest floor elevations at the time of framing inspection, and all other special construction requirements contained in this chapter.
3. 
Ascertaining whether all building permits issued in areas within the 100-year floodplain comply with all of the special construction requirements of this chapter.
4. 
Review all development permits to determine that the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied; review all development permits to determine that all necessary permits have been obtained from those federal, state, or local government agencies from which prior approval is required.
5. 
Review all development permits to determine if the proposed development is located in the floodway. If located in the floodway, assure that the provisions of KCC § 14.08.300 are met.
6. 
Review all development permits to determine that the site is reasonably safe from flooding.
7. 
Notify FEMA when annexations occur in the Special Flood Hazard Area.
8. 
Notify FEMA of changes to the base flood elevation within six months of when technical information of such changes becomes available. Such notification shall include technical or scientific information.
(Ord. 93-18 § 4.2, 1993; Ord. 2001-03; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2014-015, 2014; Ord. 2021-010, 2021)
Applications for a building or floodplain development permit shall be made on forms furnished by Kittitas County and may include, but not be limited to, 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 following. Specifically, the following information is required:
1. 
Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures recorded on a current elevation certificate with Section B completed by the Floodplain Administrator;
2. 
Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any structure will be flood-proofed;
3. 
Certification by a registered professional engineer or architect that the flood-proofing methods for any nonresidential structure meet the flood-proofing criteria in KCC § 14.08.270; and
4. 
Description of the extent to which a watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of the proposed development.
5. 
Where development is proposed in a floodway, an engineering analysis indicating no rise of the Base Flood Elevation; and
6. 
Any other such information that may be reasonably required by the Floodplain Administrator in order to review the application.
(Ord. 93-18 § 4.3, 1993; Ord. 2001-03; Ord. 2021-010, 2021)
Flood elevation certificates will be required to be submitted to and be permanently maintained by the Public Works Department:
1. 
For construction drawings prior to review of a building permit
2. 
For a building under construction prior to scheduling of a framing inspection
3. 
For finished construction prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy
(Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2014-015, 2014)
When base flood elevation data has not been provided (A Zones) in accordance with KCC § 14.08.040, Basis for establishing the areas of special flood hazard, the Floodplain Administrator 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 KCC § 14.08.240 through § 14.08.290, Specific standards, and KCC § 14.08.300, Floodways. The applicant for proposed developments where no base flood elevation exists shall conduct a site specific engineering analysis to determine a base flood elevation for the project site when the thresholds identified in KCC § 14.08.220 are met.
(Ord. 93-18 § 4.4, 1993; Ord. 2001-03; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2014-015, 2014; Ord. 2021-010, 2021)
1. 
Where base flood elevation data is provided through the flood insurance study, FIRM, or required as in KCC § 14.08.120, obtain and maintain a record of the actual (as built) elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new or substantially improved structures, and whether or not the structure contains a basement.
2. 
For all new or substantially improved flood-proofed nonresidential structures where base flood elevation data is provided through the flood insurance study, FIRM, or as required in KCC § 14.08.120:
a. 
Obtain and maintain a record of the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which the structure was flood-proofed; and
b. 
Maintain the flood-proofing certifications required in KCC § 14.08.110(3).
3. 
Maintain for public inspection all records pertaining to the provisions of this chapter.
4. 
Certification required by Section 14.08.300(1) (floodway encroachments).
5. 
Records of all variance actions, including justification for their issuance.
6. 
Improvement and damage calculations.
7. 
Professional land surveyors shall be authorized to prepare elevation certificates for compliance with this chapter and the National Flood Insurance Program. Engineers and architects shall be authorized to prepare floodproofing certificates for compliance with this chapter and the National Flood Insurance Program.
(Ord. 93-18 § 4.5, 1993; Ord. 2001-03; Ord. 2007-34, 2007; Ord. 2012-009, 2012; Ord. 2013-008, 2013; Ord. 2021-010, 2021)
Whenever a watercourse is to be altered or relocated, the Floodplain Administrator shall:
1. 
Notify adjacent communities and the Department of Ecology prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administrator through appropriate notification means, and
2. 
Assure that the flood carrying capacity of the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse is maintained.
(Ord. 93-18 § 4.6, 1993; Ord. 2001-03; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2014-015, 2014; Ord. 2021-010, 2021)
The Floodplain Administrator shall make interpretations, where needed, as to exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazards (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions). The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in KCC § 14.08.160.
(Ord. 93-18 § 4.7, 1993; Ord. 2001-03; Ord. 2014-015, 2014; Ord. 2021-010, 2021)