Sec 70-589 through 70-593

Floodplain

• 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 in the SFHA shall comply with the elevation requirements and other requirements of Sec. 70-590(b), or, if not elevated or dry floodproofed, shall: ... Be limited to no more than 600 square feet in total floor area.

• Anchoring to prevent flotation

  New construction and substantial improvements shall be built according to this division and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, and anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement.

• Enclosed area below lowest floor use

  In zones A and AE, fully 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 be used solely for parking of vehicles, building access, or limited storage.

• Existing structure conformity

  Any structure or use of a structure or premises must be brought into conformity with these provisions when it is changed, repaired, or improved unless one of the following exceptions is established.

• Maintain flood carrying capacity

  The flood carrying capacity within an altered or relocated portion of any watercourse shall be maintained.

• Flood damage-resistant materials

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

• Flood opening area ratio1 sq in per sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  The total net area of all openings must be at least one (1) square inch for each square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding.

• Minimum flood openings2 openings

  Provide a minimum of two openings on different sides of each enclosed area subject to flooding.

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

  Manufactured homes shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement.

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

  In zones A and AE, all manufactured homes placed, or substantially improved, on individual lots or parcels, must meet all the requirements for new construction, including the elevation and anchoring requirements in Secs. 70-589 and 70-590.

• Construction methods to minimize flood damage

  New construction or substantial improvements shall be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damage.

• No varianceVariancePermission to depart from a specific dimensional rule, granted on a showing of hardship. for accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure over 600 sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.600 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  No variance shall be granted for an accessory structure exceeding 600 square feet.

• Non-residential lowest floor elevation18 inches

  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 or above the base flood level plus eighteen (18) inches.

• Non-residential floodproofing elevation2 ft

  Non-residential buildings located in all 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 BFE plus two feet are water tight.

• Recreational vehicle time limit180 days

  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 in Section 70-590(e)(1).

• Residential lowest floor elevation18 inches

  New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) in Zones AE and A with detailed base flood elevations shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood level plus eighteen (18) inches.

• Sanitary sewage flood protection

  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; All subdivision proposals shall have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems located and constructed to minimize flood damage; All subdivision proposals shall have adequate drainage provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards.

• Utilities flood 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.

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

  Variances shall be issued only upon (i) a showing of good and sufficient cause, (ii) after the Board of Zoning Appeals has determined that failure to grant the variance would result in exceptional hardship to the applicant, and (iii) after the Board of Zoning Appeals has determined that the granting of such variance will not result in unacceptable or prohibited increases in flood heights, additional threats to public safety, extraordinary public expense; and will not create nuisances, cause fraud or victimization of the public, or conflict with local laws or ordinances.

• On-site waste disposal flood protection

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

• Water supply flood protection

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

• Watercourse alteration permit

  Prior to any proposed alteration or relocation of any channels or of any watercourse, stream, etc., within this jurisdiction a permit shall be obtained from the U. S. Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.