Sec. 3-1518, 3-1519, 3-1520, 3-1521, 3-1523

Floodplain

• AccessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure limits

  Accessory structures in the SFHA shall comply with the elevation requirements and other requirements of 3-1520(B), or if not elevated or dryproofed shall not be used for human habitation; be limited to no more than 600 square feet in total floor area; be usable only for parking of vehicles or limited storage; be constructed with flood damage-resistant materials; be anchored to prevent flotation; have electrical service and mechanical equipment elevated; and be provided with flood openings.

• Anchoring to prevent flotation

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

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

  In zones A, AE, AH, AO, V1-30, VE, and V, 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.

• Flood damage-resistant materials

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

• Methods to minimize flood damage

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

• 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 18 inches. 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.

• Permit requirement

  All uses, activities, and development occurring within any floodplain district, including placement of manufactured homes, shall be undertaken only upon the issuance of a zoning permit.

• Recreational vehicle standards

  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.

• Residential lowest floor elevation18 inches

  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.

• Sanitary sewage system 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.

• Space below lowest floor restrictions

  In zones A, AE, AH, AO, and A1—A30, 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 only be used for parking of vehicles, building access, or limited storage of maintenance equipment. Access to the enclosed area shall be the minimum necessary. The openings must meet certain criteria.

• Subdivision standards

  All subdivision proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage; have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems located and constructed to minimize flood damage; have adequate drainage provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards; and base flood elevation data shall be obtained for proposals exceeding 50 lots or five acres.

• 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.

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

  Variances shall be issued only upon a showing of good and sufficient cause, after the board of zoning appeals has determined that failure to grant the variance would result in exceptional hardship to the applicant, and 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, create nuisances, cause fraud or victimization of the public, or conflict with local laws or ordinances.

• On-site waste disposal system location

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

• Water supply system infiltration prevention

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