Article XXI, Sec. 74-902, 74-912, 74-917

Floodplain

• Adequate anchoring

  Be adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement.

• Construction methods to minimize flood damage

  Use construction methods and practices that will minimize flood damage.

• FillGrading (cut & fill)Reshaping land by removing earth (cut) or adding it (fill), often capped by volume. restriction

  Not place fill or other materials in the floodplain except in compliance with the provisions of this article.

• Flood-resistant materials

  Use construction materials and utility equipment that are resistant to flood damage.

• Maximum accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure size600 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Accessory structures are not to exceed six hundred (600) square feet.

• Minimize flood damage

  All development within any floodplain district shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.

• No increase in base flood elevation

  Not increase the base flood elevation.

• On-site waste disposal

  On-site waste disposal systems shall be located to avoid impairment to them or contamination from them during flooding.

• Permit required for development

  No person shall engage in any development, construction, alteration, or improvement of any land or structure within a floodplain district without first obtaining a permit from the Floodplain Administrator.

• Sanitary sewage systems

  New and replacement sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the systems and discharges from the systems into flood waters.

• BFE data for subdivisions

  Where base flood elevation data are not available, the applicant shall provide base flood elevation data for subdivision proposals and other proposed developments containing at least fifty (50) lots or five (5) acres, whichever is less.

• Subdivision consistency

  All subdivision proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.

• Subdivision drainage

  All subdivision proposals shall have adequate drainage provided to reduce exposure to flood damage.

• Subdivision utilities

  All subdivision proposals shall have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water systems located and constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damage.

• Utilities protected from flooding

  Have electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.

• VarianceVariancePermission to depart from a specific dimensional rule, granted on a showing of hardship. conditions

  The Board of Zoning Appeals may grant a variance from the provisions of this article, provided that the variance shall not cause any increase in the base flood elevation; shall only be granted upon a showing of good and sufficient cause; shall be the minimum necessary; shall not result in increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety, extraordinary public expense, create nuisances, cause fraud on or victimization of the public, or conflict with existing local laws; shall not be located in the floodway; and shall not be a danger to public health and safety.

• Violation penalties

  Any person who violates... shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each offense. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.

• Water supply systems

  New and replacement water supply systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the systems.

• Watercourse alteration notification

  Not alter a watercourse without prior notification to adjacent communities, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (Division of Dam Safety and Floodplain Management), and other appropriate agencies, and without submission of copies of such notifications to FEMA.