Dimensional standards
Servicing
- Geographic extent
- All special flood hazard areas (SFHA) within Surry County, Virginia, as identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) dated April 6, 2022.
Extracted standards
19 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Floodplain
- Minimum elevation for A zone18 inches above BFE
When such base flood elevation data is utilized, the lowest floor shall be elevated to or above the base flood level plus 18 inches.
- Maximum accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure area in SFHA600 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 600 square feet in total floor area;
- Minimum elevation for AO zone2 ft above highest adjacent grade
If no flood depth number is specified, the lowest floor, including basement, shall be elevated no less than two feet above the highest adjacent grade.
- Freeboard for Coastal A Zone1 ft
Buildings and structures within this zone shall have the lowest floor elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard...
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of flood opening bottom1 ft
The bottom of all required openings shall be no higher than one foot above the adjacent grade.
- Minimum number of flood openings2 openings
Provide a minimum of two openings on different sides of each enclosed area subject to flooding.
- Flood opening ratio1 sq inch 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 square inch for each square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding.
- Floodproofing elevation for non-residential structures2 feet above BFE
Buildings located in all A1—30, AE, and AH zones may be flood-proofed 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...
- Lowest floor elevation for non-residential structures18 inches above BFE
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 18 inches.
- Lowest floor elevation for residential structures18 inches above BFE
New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) in Zones A1—30, AE, AH 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.
- Maximum days for recreational vehicle on site180 days
Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use...
- Subdivision area threshold for BFE data5 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
Base flood elevation data shall be obtained from other sources or developed using detailed methodologies comparable to those contained in a FIS 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.
- Subdivision lot threshold for BFE data50 lots
Base flood elevation data shall be obtained from other sources or developed using detailed methodologies comparable to those contained in a FIS 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.
- Maximum accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure area for varianceVariancePermission to depart from a specific dimensional rule, granted on a showing of hardship.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.
- Maximum lot size for varianceVariancePermission to depart from a specific dimensional rule, granted on a showing of hardship.0.5 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
While the granting of variances generally is limited to a lot size less than one-half acre, deviations from that limitation may occur.
- Breakaway wall design load for VE zone20 psf
For the purpose of this section, a breakaway wall shall have a design safe loading resistance of not less than ten and no more than 20 pounds per square foot.
- Elevation for VE zone (parallel to wave approach)18 inches above BFE
The bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor (excluding the pilings or columns) is elevated to or above the base flood level plus 18 inches if the lowest horizontal structural member is parallel to the direction of wave approach...
- Elevation for VE zone (perpendicular to wave approach)1 ft above BFE
...or elevated at least one foot above the base flood level if the lowest horizontal structural member is perpendicular to the direction of wave approach;
- Maximum enclosed space below lowest floor in VE zone300 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
The enclosed space shall be less than 300 square feet.
From the ordinance
The various special flood hazard districts shall include the SFHAs. The basis for the delineation of these districts shall be the FIS and the FIRM for Surry County, Virginia prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Insurance Administration, dated April 6, 2022 and any subsequent revisions or amendments thereto.