Article V, Division 2, Sec. 90-301 through 90-321
Dimensional standards
Servicing
- Applies near
- special flood hazard areas
- Geographic extent
- Applies to all lands within the city identified as special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) on the FIRM or FIS.
Uses
Permitted by right5
- development of a structure where flood height effects are fully offset
- agricultural uses
- recreational uses
- accessory residential uses
- accessory industrial and commercial uses
Extracted standards
10 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Other
- Anchoring required
New construction and substantial improvements shall be built according to this ordinance and the VA USBC, and anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure.
- Flood damage resistant materials
New construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage.
- Flood opening requirements
Provide a minimum of two openings on different sides of each enclosed area subject to flooding. The total net area of all openings must be at least one square inch for each square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding. The bottom of all required openings shall be no higher than one foot above the adjacent grade.
- Floodproofing elevation (nonresidential)2 ft
Non-residential buildings located in all A and AE zones may be floodproofed in lieu of being elevated provided that all areas of the building components below the elevation corresponding to the base flood elevation plus two feet are watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water and use structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and the effect of buoyancy.
- Floodway encroachment restriction
Within any designated floodway areas, no encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, or other development shall be permitted unless it has been demonstrated through hydrologic and hydraulic analysis performed in accordance with standard engineering practice that the proposed encroachment will not result in any increase in flood levels within the community during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
- Maximum accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure floor area200 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Be limited to no more than 200 square feet in total floor area.
- Minimum lowest floor elevation (residential)2 ft
New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) in zones AE and A, shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood level plus 24 inches.
- Minimum lowest floor elevation (nonresidential)2 ft
New construction or substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial, or nonresidential building shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood level plus 24 inches.
- Permit required
All uses, activities and development occurring within the flood hazard overlay district shall be undertaken only upon the issuance of a permit.
- Subdivision standards
Have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems located and constructed to minimize flood damage; and have adequate drainage provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards.
From the ordinance
These provisions shall apply to all lands within the jurisdiction of the city and identified as special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) identified by the city or shown on the flood insurance rate map (FIRM) or included in the flood insurance study (FIS) that are provided to the city by FEMA.