§ F. Standards for areas of shallow flooding (AO Zones).  


Latest version.
  • Located within the areas of special flood hazard established in Article 3, section B, are areas designated as shallow flooding areas. These areas have special flood hazards associated with base flood depths of one (1) to three (3) feet where a clearly defined channel does not exist and where the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate; therefore, the following provisions apply:

    (1)

    All new construction and substantial improvements of residential buildings shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to the depth number specified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map, in feet, above the highest adjacent grade. If no depth number is specified, the lowest floor, including basement, shall be elevated at least two (2) feet above the highest adjacent grade.

    (2)

    All new construction and substantial improvements of nonresidential buildings shall:

    (a)

    Have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to the depth number specified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map, in feet, above the highest adjacent grade. If no depth number is specified, the lowest floor, including basement, shall be elevated at least two (2) feet above the highest adjacent grade; or

    (b)

    Together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, be completely floodproofed to or above that level so that any space below that level is watertight, with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water, and with structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy.

    (3)

    Liquid petroleum fuel tanks shall be anchored to prevent flotation and/or engineer certified to be flood proofed. This includes any type of fuel oil type storage tanks located less than one (1) foot above the base flood elevation (BFE).