Alpine County Municipal Code Art. III-A Buildings and Structures

Applications for buildings and structures within the scope of the building code that are proposed in flood hazard areas shall comply with the applicable requirements of the building code and local amendments to the building code specified in Section 16.08.520, Amendments to California Code of Regulations (Title 24). (Ord. 753 § 2 (§ 301-1), 2023)

Detached garages and accessory storage structures used only for parking or storage are permitted below the base flood elevation provided the garages and accessory storage structures:

A. Are one story and not larger than six hundred square feet in area when located in special flood hazard areas.

B. Are anchored to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement resulting from flood loads.

C. Have flood openings in accordance with the building code.

D. Have flood-damage-resistant materials used below the base flood elevation.

E. Have mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, including plumbing fixtures, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. (Ord. 753 § 2 (§ 301-2), 2023)

Utility and miscellaneous Group U includes buildings that are accessory in character and miscellaneous structures not classified in any specific occupancy in the building code, including, but not limited to, agricultural buildings, aircraft hangars (accessory to a one- or two-family residence), barns, carports, fences more than six feet (one thousand eight hundred twenty-nine mm) high, grain silos (accessory to a residential occupancy), greenhouses, livestock shelters, private garages, retaining walls, sheds, stables, and towers. In addition to the building code requirements for fire and life safety, the following shall apply to utility and miscellaneous Group U buildings and structures in flood hazard areas:

A. New construction and substantial improvement of such buildings and structures shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement resulting from flood loads, including the effects of buoyancy, during conditions of the design flood.

B. New construction and substantial improvement of such buildings and structures, when fully enclosed by walls, shall be elevated such that the lowest floor, including basement, is elevated to or above the design flood elevation in accordance with ASCE 24 or shall be dry floodproofed in accordance with ASCE 24.

C. Unless dry floodproofed, fully enclosed areas below the design flood elevation shall be constructed in accordance with ASCE 24 and limited to parking, storage, and building access.

D. When fully enclosed by walls, flood openings shall be installed in accordance with ASCE 24.

E. Flood-damage-resistant materials shall be used below the design flood elevation.

Mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, including plumbing fixtures, shall be located or installed in accordance with ASCE 24. (Ord. 753 § 2 (§ 301-3), 2023)

A. CCR Title 24, Part 2, Section 105.3 is hereby amended as follows:

105.3 Application for permit. To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form furnished by the department of building safety for that purpose.

Such application shall:

1. Identify and describe the work to be covered by the permit for which application is made.

2. Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be done by legal description, street address or similar description that will readily identify and definitely locate the proposed building or work.

3. Indicate the use and occupancy for which the proposed work is intended.

4. Be accompanied by construction documents and other information as required in Section 107.

5. State the valuation of the proposed work.

6. Be signed by the applicant, or the applicant’s authorized agent.

7. Give such other data and information as required by the building official.

8. Include a non-conversion agreement signed by the applicant if the building in a flood hazard area has enclosed areas below the lowest floor.

B. Part 2, Section 1612.2 is hereby amended by adding a new Section 1612.2.1 as follows:

1612.2.1 Modification of ASCE 24: Elevation requirements. The minimum elevation requirements shall be as specified in ASCE 24 or the base flood elevation plus 1 foot, whichever is higher.

C. CCR Title 24, Part 2.5, Section R105.3 is hereby amended as follows:

R105.3 Application for permit. To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form furnished by the department of building safety for that purpose. Such application shall:

1. Identify and describe the work to be covered by the permit for which application is made.

2. Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be done by legal description, street address or similar description that will readily identify and definitely locate the proposed building or work.

3. Indicate the use and occupancy for which the proposed work is intended.

4. Be accompanied by construction documents and other information as required in Section R106.1.

5. State the valuation of the proposed work.

6. Be signed by the applicant or the applicant’s authorized agent.

7. Give such other data and information as required by the building official.

8. Include a non-conversion agreement signed by the applicant if the building in a flood hazard area has enclosed areas below the lowest floor.

D. CCR Title 24, Part 2.5, Section R322.2 is hereby amended as follows:

R322.2.1 Elevation requirements.

1. Buildings and structures in flood hazard areas, including flood hazard areas designated as Coastal A Zones shall have the lowest floors elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 1 foot (610mm), whichever is higher.

2. In areas of shallow flooding (AO Zones), buildings and structures shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated at least as high above the highest adjacent grade as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM plus 1 foot (305 mm) or not less than 3 feet (915 mm), if a depth number is not specified.

3. Basement floors that are below grade on all sides shall be elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 1 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.

Exception: Enclosed areas below the design flood elevation, including basements whose floors are not below grade on all sides, shall meet the requirements of Section R322.2.2.

R322.2.2 Enclosed area below design flood elevation. Enclosed areas, including crawl spaces, that are below the design flood elevation shall:

1. Be used solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage.

2. Be provided with flood openings that meet the following criteria and are installed in accordance with Section R322.2.2.1:

3. The total net area of nonengineered openings shall be not less than 1 square inch (645 mm2) for each square foot (0.093 m2) of enclosed area where the enclosed area is measured on the exterior of the enclosure walls, or the openings shall be designed as engineered openings and the construction documents shall include a statement by a registered design professional that the design of the openings will provide for equalization of hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters as specified in Section 2.7.2.2 of ASCE 24.

4. Openings shall be not less than 3 inches (76 mm) in any direction in the plane of the wall.

5. The presence of louvers, blades, screens and faceplates or other covers and devices shall allow the automatic flow of floodwater into and out of the enclosed areas and shall be accounted for in the determination of the net open area.

(Ord. 753 § 2 (§ 301-4), 2023)