Alleghany County Unincorporated, Virginia · General provision

Sec. 66-344(i)

Dimensional standards

Servicing

Geographic extent
Areas identified as AE zones on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for the county

Extracted standards

9 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.

Floodplain

  • Enclosure openings for elevated structures

    Fully enclosed areas of new construction or substantial improvements of elevated structures that have areas below the established base flood elevation shall not be designed or used for human habitation, but can be used for parking, access or limited storage... shall have walls that allow for entry and exit of floodwaters and meet the following minimum design standards: Minimum of two openings on different sides... total net area of at least one square inch for each square foot of enclosed area... bottom of all required openings shall be no higher than one foot above the adjacent grade.

  • No development increasing flood heights

    Until a regulatory floodway is designated no new construction, substantial improvements, or other development including fill, will be permitted within these areas until it has been demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point.

  • Nonresidential lowest floor elevation or floodproofing1 ft above BFE

    New construction or substantial improvements of any commercial, industrial, or nonresidential building shall have the lowest finished floor, including basements, elevated to one foot above the determined base flood elevation. Buildings located in AE zones may be floodproofed in lieu of being elevated...

  • Residential lowest floor elevation1 ft above BFE

    New construction or substantial improvements of any residential structure, including manufactured homes, shall have the lowest finished floor, including basements, elevated to one foot above the determined base flood elevation.

Other

  • Alteration of watercourses requires approvals

    Prior to any proposed alteration or relocation of any channels, floodways or any watercourse... approval shall be obtained from the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

  • Anchoring of new construction

    New construction and substantial improvements shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure...

  • Site plan information required

    All applications for development within any floodplain district... shall incorporate: the elevation of the base flood at the site, the elevation of the lowest floor, etc.

  • Preservation of drainageways

    Under no circumstances shall any use, activity or development adversely affect the capacity of the channels or floodways of any watercourse, drainage ditch or any other drainage facility or system.

  • Utilities designed to prevent water entry

    Utilities and mechanical devices and equipments and other service facilities shall be designed or located as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during flooding.

From the ordinance

In the special flood hazard areas and approximated floodplain districts, the development or use of land shall be permitted in accordance with the regulations of the underlying district, provided that all such uses, activities or development shall be undertaken in strict compliance with the floodproofing and related provisions...
Sec. 66-344(i)