Anyone who intends to undertake any development activities within the scope of this chapter which is wholly within or partially within any reasonably suspected flood hazard area shall first make application to the Planning Department and obtain any required permit(s). No such permit shall be issued until compliance with the requirements of this chapter and all other applicable codes and regulations has been satisfied.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)
Floodplain permits shall be issued for all development activities including those which are not subject to the requirements of the building codes and those which do not constitute a substantial improvement.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)
Floodplain permits are required for buildings and structures that are explicitly exempt from requirements to obtain a building permit under the building codes, including but not limited to:
(A) 
One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses of any size;
(B) 
Fences of any height;
(C) 
Retaining walls of any height;
(D) 
Water tanks of any size; and
(E) 
Fill placement of any scale.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)
Anyone who proposes development within a flood hazard area shall file an application with the Planning Department. The information provided shall:
(A) 
Identify and describe the development to be covered by the permit;
(B) 
Describe the land on which the proposed development is to be conducted by legal description, street address or similar description that will readily identify and definitely locate the site;
(C) 
Indicate the use and occupancy for which the proposed development is intended;
(D) 
Be accompanied by a site plan and/or construction documents as specified in Part V of this chapter, if required;
(E) 
State the valuation of the proposed work, based upon a preliminary or detailed cost estimate, as required by the Floodplain Administrator and this chapter. The cost estimate shall include a list of all plan sheets used to develop the estimate, including title, latest revision date and plan preparer, as well as the signature and license number of the contractor who prepared the cost estimate; and
(F) 
Be signed by the applicant or the applicant's authorized agent.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)
The issuance of a permit pursuant to this chapter shall not be construed to be a permit for, or approval of, any violation of this chapter, the building codes, or any other local law. The issuance of a permit based on submitted documents and information shall not prevent the Floodplain Administrator from requiring the correction of errors. The Planning Director or the Building Official is authorized to prevent occupancy or use of a building or structure which is in violation of the permit, the building codes or of any other laws of this jurisdiction.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)
The developer and/or subdivider of a parcel or parcels in an area of flood hazards shall be required, as a condition of development or building permit approval, to record a declaration of flood hazards, acceptance of risk, liability release, and indemnification with the County Recorder. The declaration shall be in a form approved by the County of Santa Cruz and shall include acknowledgements and agreements, as applicable to the specific project, including, but not limited to, description of the hazards on the parcel or parcels, the level of hydrologic analysis conducted, and an acknowledgement and assumption of risks posed by flood hazards.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)
All other required State and Federal permits shall be obtained by the applicant as a condition of floodplain permit approval.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)
Other permit conditions, including, but not limited to, project redesign, building site elimination, development of building and septic envelopes, and foundation requirements, shall be required as deemed necessary by the Floodplain Administrator.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)
When base flood elevation data are not provided in the flood insurance study, the Floodplain Administrator shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize the best base flood data available from Federal, State or other sources, as a basis for elevating new and substantially improved residential structures and elevating or floodproofing new and substantially improved nonresidential structures, to at least two feet above the base flood level. If data are not available, the applicant shall provide an analysis to estimate the base flood elevation, in compliance with SCCC § 16.13.400.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)
A floodplain development permit shall become invalid pursuant to expiration limits of building permits pursuant to Chapter 12.10 SCCC. If a building permit has been issued then the validity of the floodplain development permit shall be linked to the life and validity of the associated building permit and if the building permit is valid then the floodplain development permit remains valid. Extensions to floodplain development permits shall be granted pursuant to the provisions for extensions to building permits established in Chapter 12.10 SCCC.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)
The Floodplain Administrator is authorized to suspend or revoke a floodplain development permit wherever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete information, or in violation of this chapter or any applicable local law.
(Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)