Dimensional standards
Servicing
- Applies near
- flood hazard areas
- Geographic extent
- Special flood hazard areas, including floodplainFloodplainLand expected to flood at a stated frequency, where building carries extra conditions. and floodway areas
Uses
Permitted by right5
Extracted standards
16 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Other
- Adequate drainage for subdivisions
All subdivision proposals shall have adequate drainage provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards.
- Base flood elevation data for large subdivisions
Base flood elevation data shall be obtained from other sources or developed using detailed methodologies for subdivision proposals exceeding 50 lots or five acres.
- Manufactured homeManufactured homeA dwelling built in a factory to a federal standard and transported to the site. compliance with new construction standards
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.
- Subdivision consistency with flood damage minimization
All subdivision proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.
- Flood opening heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. above adjacent grade1 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.
- Total net area of flood openings1 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 square inch for each square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding.
- Flood-resistant materials below regulatory flood protection elevation
Be constructed entirely of flood resistant materials below the regulatory flood protection elevation.
- Hydrologic and hydraulic evaluation
In the floodplain area, the applicant and/or developer shall evaluate the effects of the proposed development and/or use of land on the floodplain with current hydrologic and hydraulic engineering technologies.
- Flood carrying capacity maintenance
The flood carrying capacity within an altered or relocated portion of any watercourse shall be maintained.
- Nonresidential lowest floor elevation above base flood elevation1 ft
New construction or substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial, or nonresidential building (or manufactured home) shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above one foot above the base flood level. Buildings located in AE and AH zones may be flood-proofed in lieu of being elevated.
- Permit required for watercourse alteration
Prior to any proposed alteration or relocation of any channels or of any watercourse, stream, etc., a permit shall be obtained from the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
- Public utilitiesPublic utilitiesInfrastructure serving the wider area — substations, pump stations, towers. and facilities flood damage minimization
All subdivision proposals shall have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems located and constructed to minimize flood damage.
- Residential lowest floor elevation above base flood elevation2 ft
New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) in zones AE and AH with detailed base flood elevations shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above two feet above the base flood level.
- Use restrictions for space below lowest floor
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.
- Recreational vehicle placement requirements
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.
From the ordinance
The development and/or use of land shall be permitted in accordance with the regulations of the underlying zoning district, provided that all such uses, activities, and/or development shall be undertaken in strict compliance with the floodproofing and related provisions. In the floodway area, permitted uses include agricultural, recreational, accessory residential, accessory industrial/commercial, and manufactured homes in existing parks.