Dimensional standards
Servicing
- Applies near
- Special Flood Hazard Area
- Geographic extent
- All areas of special flood hazard according to the FIRM
Extracted standards
24 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 anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement.
- BFE data for large subdivisions50 lots
Base flood elevation data required for subdivisions exceeding 50 lots or 5 acres.
- Enclosed area use restrictions
Enclosed areas below regulatory flood protection elevation shall only be used for parking, building access, or limited storage.
- Maintain flood carrying capacity
The flood carrying capacity within an altered or relocated portion of any watercourse shall be maintained.
- Flood openings required1 sq in per sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Provide a minimum of two openings on different sides, total net area at least 1 square inch per square foot of enclosed area, bottom no higher than 1 foot above adjacent grade.
- Flood-resistant materials required
New construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage.
- Manufactured homeManufactured homeA dwelling built in a factory to a federal standard and transported to the site. requirements
Manufactured homes must meet all new construction requirements including elevation and anchoring.
- Maximum accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure size200 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Accessory structures not to exceed 200 square feet.
- Maximum recreational vehicle size400 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Recreational vehicle is 400 sq ft or less.
- Minimize flood damage
New construction or substantial improvements shall be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damage.
- Non-residential lowest floor elevation1 ft
Lowest floor elevated no lower than 1 foot above base flood level, or floodproofed.
- Recreational vehicle requirements
Recreational vehicles must be on site <180 days and ready for highway use, or meet manufactured home requirements.
- Residential lowest floor elevation1 ft
Lowest floor elevated no lower than 1 foot above base flood level.
- Sanitary sewage flood protection
New and replacement sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters and discharges.
- Subdivision drainage
Subdivision proposals shall have adequate drainage.
- Subdivision utilities flood protection
Subdivision proposals shall have public utilities located to minimize flood damage.
- Substantial damage threshold50 pct
Substantial damage is damage costing 50% or more of market value.
- Substantial improvement threshold50 pct
Improvements less than 50% of market value must conform to VA USBC; 50% or more must fully comply with this article.
- Utilities flood protection
Electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, air conditioning equipment and other service facilities shall be designed to prevent water entry.
Variances require good cause, exceptional hardship, and no increased flood risk.
- VarianceVariancePermission to depart from a specific dimensional rule, granted on a showing of hardship. lot size limit0.5 acreacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
Variances generally limited to lots less than one-half acre.
- Waste disposal flood protection
On-site waste disposal systems shall be located and constructed to avoid impairment or contamination during flooding.
- Water supply flood protection
New and replacement water supply systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters.
- Watercourse alteration permit required
Prior to any proposed alteration or relocation of any watercourse, a permit shall be obtained from the U.S. Corps of Engineers, VADEQ, and VMRC.
From the ordinance
These provisions shall apply to all privately and publicly owned lands within the jurisdiction of the City of Harrisonburg and identified as areas of special flood hazard according to the flood insurance rate map (FIRM) that is provided to the City of Harrisonburg by FEMA.