A floodplain development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.24.040. The permit shall be for all structures including manufactured homes, as set forth in Section 15.24.020, Definitions, and for all development including fill and other activities, also as set forth in Section 15.24.020, Definitions.
(Ord. 2022-12 § 2 (Att. A), 2022)
A. 
Before issuance of any building permit, and before construction or development begins within any area of specific flood hazard established in Section 15.24.040, all provisions of this chapter shall be complied with by the person or persons or corporations obtaining the building permit or undertaking the construction or development. This requirement of compliance with the provisions of this chapter applies to all structures, including mobile homes, set forth in Section 15.24.020, and for all other development including fill or other activities, also set forth in Section 15.24.020. Applications for a building permit within any area of specific flood hazard as established in Section 15.24.040 shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of Chapter 15.04, contain the following information:
1. 
Elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures as determined by a Washington State registered land surveyor or Washington State licensed civil engineer;
2. 
Elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any structure has been floodproofed as determined by a Washington State registered land surveyor or Washington State licensed civil engineer;
3. 
Certification by a registered professional engineer or architect that the floodproofing method for any nonresidential structure meets the floodproofing criteria in Section 15.24.240;
4. 
Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of 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.
B. 
In the event that any person, persons or corporations undertake any development including fill or other activity which falls within Section 15.24.020, but for which no building permit would otherwise be required but for this chapter, the requirements of this chapter must be met, and the city engineer shall, upon compliance by such person, persons or corporations with all of the requirements of this chapter, issue a certificate to such person, persons or corporations to that effect.
(Ord. 79-24 § 4.1, 1979; Ord. 2017-05 § 2 (Att. A (part)), 2017; Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 2022-12 § 2 (Att. A), 2022)
Whenever any building permit application is filed for any structure to be located in an area of special flood hazard, the planning department shall forward the same to the city engineer for review. The city engineer is appointed to administer and implement this chapter by granting or denying building permit applications in accordance with its provisions and all other provisions of the building code of the city.
(Ord. 79-24 § 4.2, 1979; Ord. 87-20 § 2, 1987; Ord. 2017-05 § 2 (Att. A (part)), 2017; Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 2022-12 § 2 (Att. A), 2022)
Duties of the city engineer include, but are not limited to:
A. 
Review of all building permits to determine that the permit requirements of this chapter have been met;
B. 
Review of development permits to determine that all necessary permits have been obtained from those federal, state or local governmental agencies from which prior approval is required;
C. 
Review of all building permits to determine if the proposed development is located in the floodway. If a development is located in a floodway, the engineer shall ensure that the encroachment provisions of Section 15.24.280(A) are met;
D. 
The site is reasonably safe from flooding;
E. 
Notifying FEMA when annexations occur in the special flood hazard area.
(Ord. 79-24 § 4.3, 1979; Ord. 87-20 § 3, 1987; Ord. 2005-27 § 4, 2005; Ord. 2017-05 § 2 (Att. A (part)), 2017; Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 2022-12 § 2 (Att. A), 2022)
When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with Section 15.24.040, the city engineer shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from federal, state or other sources, in order to administer and determine compliance with Sections 15.24.170 through 15.24.280.
(Ord. 79-24 § 4.3-2, 1979; Ord. 87-20 § 4, 1987; Ord. 2017-05 § 2 (Att. A (part)), 2017; Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 2022-12 § 2 (Att. A), 2022)
A. 
Where base flood elevation data is provided through the flood insurance study or required as provided in Section 15.24.120, the city engineer shall obtain and record the actual 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.
B. 
For all new or substantially improved floodproofed nonresidential structures where base flood elevation data is provided through the FIS, FIRM, or as required the city engineer shall:
1. 
Obtain and record the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which the structure was floodproofed; and
2. 
Maintain the floodproofing certifications required in Section 15.24.090(A)(3).
C. 
The city engineer shall maintain for public inspection all records pertaining to the provisions of this chapter, including the following:
1. 
Certification required by Section 15.24.280.
2. 
Records of all variance actions, including justification for their issuance.
3. 
Improvement and damage calculations.
(Ord. 79-24 § 4.3-3, 1979; Ord. 87-20 § 5, 1987; Ord. 2017-05 § 2 (Att. A (part)), 2017; Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 2022-12 § 2 (Att. A), 2022)
The city engineer shall:
A. 
Notify adjacent communities and the state coordinating agency prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administration;
B. 
Require that maintenance is provided within the altered or relocated portion of the watercourses so that the flood-carrying capacity is not diminished.
(Ord. 79-24 § 4.3-4, 1979; Ord. 2017-05 § 2 (Att. A (part)), 2017; Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 2022-12 § 2 (Att. A), 2022)
The city engineer shall make interpretations where needed as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard. The person contesting the location of the boundaries shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation, as provided in Section 15.24.290.
(Ord. 79-24 § 4.3-5, 1979; Ord. 89-30 § 1, 1989; Ord. 2017-05 § 2 (Att. A (part)), 2017; Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 2022-12 § 2 (Att. A), 2022)