§ 171-38

Other

• Anchoring to prevent flotation

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

• Enclosed areas below flood protection elevation

  Enclosed areas of new construction or substantially improved structures which are below the regulatory flood protection elevation shall not be designed or used for human habitation, but shall only be used for parking of vehicles, building access, or limited storage of maintenance equipment... The interior portion of such enclosed area shall not be partitioned or finished into separate rooms, except to enclose storage areas.

• Floodway encroachment prohibition

  Encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other developments are prohibited unless certification (with supporting technical data) by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during occurrence of the base flood discharge.

• Openings for hydrostatic equalization1 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 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.

• Flood-resistant materials

  New construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage.

• Flood-resistant materials below elevation

  Be constructed entirely of flood-resistant materials below the regulatory flood protection elevation.

• Residential lowest floor elevation2 ft

  New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than two feet above the base flood elevation.

• Nonresidential lowest floor elevation2 ft

  New construction or substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial, or non-residential building (or manufactured home) shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to no lower than two feet above the base flood elevation. Buildings located in all A1-30, AE, and AH zones may be floodproofed in lieu of being elevated provided that all areas of the building components below the elevation corresponding to the BFE plus one foot are watertight...

• Approximated floodplainFloodplainLand expected to flood at a stated frequency, where building carries extra conditions. lowest floor elevation2 ft

  When the data is not available from any source, the lowest floor of the structure shall be elevated to no lower than two feet above the highest adjacent grade.

• Manufactured homeManufactured homeA dwelling built in a factory to a federal standard and transported to the site. elevation2 ft

  All manufactured homes placed or substantially improved in an existing manufactured home park or subdivision in which a manufactured home has not incurred substantial damage as the result of a flood must be elevated so that either the lowest floor of the manufactured home is elevated no lower than two feet above the base flood elevation; or the manufactured home chassis is supported by reinforced piers or other foundation elements of at least equivalent strength that are no less than 36 inches in height above grade.

• Recreational vehicle placement

  All recreational vehicles placed on sites must either be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days; be fully licensed and ready for highway use; or meet all the requirements for manufactured homes.

• Sanitary sewage infiltration prevention

  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.

• Subdivision flood damage minimization

  All subdivision proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage; shall have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems located and constructed to minimize flood damage; shall have adequate drainage provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards; and base flood elevation data shall be provided for subdivision proposals and other proposed development proposals (including manufactured home parks and subdivisions) that exceed 50 lots or five acres, whichever is the lesser.

• Utility equipment protection

  Electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, air-conditioning equipment and other service facilities, including duct work, shall be designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.

• On-site waste disposal location

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

• Water supply infiltration prevention

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