Ontario Municipal Code Art. 5 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction

In all areas of special flood hazards, the following standards are required:

(a) Anchoring.

(1) All new construction and substantial improvements shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy.

(2) All manufactured homes shall meet the anchoring standards of § 8-13.504.

(b) Construction materials and methods.

(1) All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage.

(2) All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed using methods and practices that minimize flood damage.

(3) All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities that are designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.

(4) Require within Zones AH or AO adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes to guide flood waters around and away from proposed structures.

(c) Elevation and floodproofing.

(1) New construction and substantial improvements of any structure shall have the lowest habitable floor, including basement, elevated to at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation. Nonresidential structures may meet the standards in § 8-13.501(c)(3). Upon the completion of the structure, the elevation of the lowest floor, including basement, shall be certified by a registered professional engineer or surveyor, or verified by the community building inspector to be properly elevated. Such certification or verification shall be provided to the Building Official.

(2) New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AH or AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least one (1) foot higher than the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two (2) feet if no depth number is specified. Nonresidential structures may meet the standards in § 8-13.501(c)(3). Upon the completion of the structure, the elevation of the lowest floor, including basement, shall be certified by a registered professional engineer or surveyor, or verified by the community building inspector to be properly elevated. Such certification or verification shall be provided to the Building Official.

(3) Nonresidential construction shall either be elevated in conformance with § 8-13.501(c)(1) or (2) or, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities:

(i) Be floodproofed so that the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water to a minimum of one (1) foot above the base flood elevation;

(ii) Have structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy;

(iii) Be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. Such certification shall be provided to the Floodplain Administrator.

(4) Require, for all new construction and substantial improvements, that fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are subject to flooding shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:

(i) Either a minimum of two openings having a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be provided. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade. Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters; or

(ii) Be certified to comply with a local floodproofing standard approved by the Federal Insurance Administration.

(5) Manufactured homes shall also meet the standards in § 8-13.504.

(§ 1, Ord. 2409, eff. February 4, 1988, § 5, Ord. 3271, eff. April 4, 2024)

(a) All new and replacement water supply and sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the system and discharge from systems into flood waters.

(b) On-site waste disposal systems shall be located to avoid impairment to them or contamination from them during flooding.

(§ 1, Ord. 2409, eff. February 4, 1988)

(a) All preliminary subdivision proposals shall identify the flood hazard area and the elevation of the base flood.

(b) All final subdivision plans shall provide the elevation of proposed structure(s) and pads. If the site is filled above the base flood, the final pad elevation shall be certified by a registered professional engineer or surveyor and provided to the Floodplain Administrator.

(c) All subdivision proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.

(d) All subdivision proposals shall have public utilities and facilities, such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water systems, located and constructed to minimize flood damage.

(e) All subdivisions shall provide adequate drainage to reduce exposure to flood hazards.

(§ 1, Ord. 2409, eff. February 4, 1988)

All new and replacement manufactured homes and additions to manufactured homes shall:

(a) Be elevated so that the lowest floor is a minimum of one (1) foot above the base flood elevation; and

(b) Be securely anchored to a permanent foundation system to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement.

(§ 1, Ord. 2409, eff. February 4, 1988, § 7, Ord. 3271, eff. April 4, 2024)

Located within areas of special flood hazard established in § 8-13.302 are areas designated as floodways. Since the floodway is an extremely hazardous area due to the velocity of flood waters which carry debris, potential projectiles, and erosion potential, the following provisions apply:

(a) Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.

(b) If subsection (a) of this section is satisfied, all new construction and substantial improvements shall comply with all other applicable flood hazard reduction provisions of Article 5.

(§ 1, Ord. 2409, eff. February 4, 1988)

(a) The Floodplain Administrator shall review permits for proposed construction or other development to determine if it is proposed within a mudslide area.

(b) Permits shall be reviewed to determine that the proposed development is reasonably safe from mudslide hazards. Factors to be considered in making this determination include but are not limited to:

(1) The type and quality of soils;

(2) Evidence of ground water or surface water problems;

(3) The depth and quality of any fill;

(4) The overall slope of the site; and

(5) The weight that any proposed development will impose on the slope.

(c) Within areas which have mudslide hazards, the following requirements apply:

(1) A site investigation and further review shall be made by persons qualified in geology and soils engineering;

(2) The proposed grading, excavation, new construction and substantial improvements shall be adequately designed and protected against mudslide damages;

(3) The proposed grading, excavations, new construction and substantial improvements do not aggravate the existing hazard creating either on-site or off-site disturbances; and

(4) Drainage, planting, watering and maintenance shall not endanger slope stability.

(d) Prior to the issuance of building permits, all properties within any Flood Zones inundated by the 100 year flood as designated on the latest edition of the Flood Insurance Rate Map shall demonstrate to the Flood Plain Administrator that any and all structures are adequately protected consistent with the most current provisions of the grading requirements set forth in the agencies latest edition of the adopted Building Codes. These requirements shall also include the following elements:

(1) The location of foundation and utility systems of new construction and substantial improvements;

(2) The location, drainage and maintenance of all excavations, cuts and fills and planted slopes;

(3) Protective measures, including but not limited to retaining walls, buttress fills, subdrains, diverter terraces, benchings, and the like; and

(4) Engineering drawings and specifications to be submitted for all corrective measures, accompanied by supporting soils engineering and geology reports.

(§ 1, Ord. 2409, eff. February 4, 1988)

(a) The Floodplain Administrator shall require permits for proposed construction and other development within all flood-related erosion-prone areas as known to the community.

(b) Such permits shall be reviewed to determine whether the proposed site alterations and improvements will be reasonably safe from flood- related erosion and will not cause flood-related erosion hazards or otherwise aggravate the existing hazard.

(c) If a proposed improvement is found to be in the path of flood-related erosion or would increase the erosion hazard, such improvement shall be relocated or adequate protective measures shall be taken to avoid aggravating the existing erosion hazard.

(§ 1, Ord. 2409, eff. February 4, 1988)

(a) All recreational vehicles placed in SFHA Zones A1-30, AH or AE must either:

(1) Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days;

(2) Be fully licensed and ready for highway use; or

(3) Meet the permit requirements of Section 8-13.401 and the elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes in Section 8-13.504.

(b) For purposes of this section, a recreational vehicle is ready for highway use if it is on its wheels or jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick disconnect type utilities and security devices, and has no permanently attached additions.

(§ 2, Ord. 2991, eff. July 17, 2014)