Title 6 — Development Services›Division 2 — Local Amendments To Adopted Codes›Chapter 6.65 — FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
Article IV — ADMINISTRATION
South Lake Tahoe Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · South Lake Tahoe
§ 6.65.130. Establishment of development permit. ¶
A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in SLTCC § 6.65.070 . Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the floodplain administrator and may include, but not be limited to, plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing the nature, location, dimensions, and elevation of the area in question; existing or proposed structures, fill, storage of materials, drainage facilities; and the location of the foregoing. Specifically, the following information is required:
A. Site plan, including but not limited to:
For all proposed structures, spot ground elevations at building comers and 20-foot or smaller intervals along the foundation footprint, or one-foot contour elevations throughout the building site; and
Proposed locations of water supply, sanitary sewer, and utilities; and
If available, the base flood elevation from the Flood Insurance Study and/or Flood Insurance Rate Map; and
If applicable, the location of the regulatory floodway; and
B. Foundation design detail, including but not limited to:
Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures; and
For a crawl-space foundation, location and total net area of foundation openings as required in SLTCC § 7.20.170(C)(3) and FEMA Technical Bulletins TB 1-93 and TB 7-93; and
For foundations placed on fill, the location and height of fill, and compaction requirements (compacted to 95 percent using the Standard Proctor Test method); and
C. Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed, as required in SLTCC § 6.65.170(C)(2) and FEMA Technical Bulletin TB 3-93; and
D. All appropriate certifications listed in SLTCC § 6.65.150(D) and requirements of SLTCC § 6.65.170 ; and
E. Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of proposed development.
(Ord. 910 § 1 (4-1); Code 1997 § 34-13)
§ 6.65.140. Designation of the floodplain administrator. ¶
The zoning administrator is hereby appointed to be the floodplain administrator to administer, implement, and enforce this chapter by granting or denying development permits in accordance with its provisions.
(Ord. 910 § 1 (4-2); Code 1997 § 34-14)
§ 6.65.150. Duties and responsibilities of the floodplain administrator. ¶
The duties and responsibilities of the floodplain administrator shall include, but not be limited to the following:
A. Permit Review. Review all development permits to determine that:
Permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied;
All other required state and federal permits have been obtained;
The site is reasonably safe from flooding;
The proposed development will not cause downstream flooding; and
The proposed development does not adversely affect the carrying capacity of areas where base flood elevations have been determined but a floodway has not been designated. For purposes of this chapter, "adversely affects" means that the cumulative effect of the proposed development when combined with all other existing and anticipated development will increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point.
B. Other Base Flood Data. Review, use and development of other base flood data as follows:
When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with SLTCC § 6.65.070 , the floodplain administrator shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal or state agency, or other source, in order to administer Article V of this chapter. Project applicants are responsible for providing all necessary information to the city of South Lake Tahoe. Such information shall be submitted to the city of South Lake Tahoe for adoption; or
If no base flood elevation data is available from a federal or state agency or other source, then a base flood elevation shall be obtained from any project applicant. Applicant shall provide information using one of two methods from the FEMA publication "Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas – A Guide for Obtaining and Developing Base (100-year) Flood Elevations" dated July 1995, in order to administer Article V of this chapter:
a. Simplified Method.
i. One-hundred-year or base flood discharge shall be obtained using the appropriate regression equation found in a U.S. Geological Survey publication, or the discharge-drainage area method; and
ii. Base flood elevation shall be obtained using the Quick-2 computer program developed by FEMA; or
b. Detailed Method.
i. One-hundred-year or base flood discharge shall be obtained using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' HEC-HMS computer program; and
ii. Base flood elevation shall be obtained using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' HEC-RAS computer program.
C. Notification of Other Agencies. In alteration or relocation of a watercourse:
Notify adjacent communities and the California Department of Water Resources prior to alteration or relocation;
Submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
Assure that the flood-carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse is maintained.
D. Documentation of Floodplain Development. Obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available as needed the following:
Certification required by SLTCC § 6.65.170(C)(1) and § 6.65.200 (lowest floor elevations);
Certification required by SLTCC § 6.65.170(C)(2) (elevation or floodproofing of nonresidential structures);
Certification required by SLTCC § 6.65.170(C)(3) (wet floodproofing standard);
Certification of elevation required by SLTCC § 6.65.190(B) (subdivision standards);
Certification required by SLTCC § 6.65.220 (floodway encroachments).
E. Map Determinations. Make interpretations, where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard. Where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions, grade and base flood elevations shall be used to determine the boundaries of the special flood hazard area. The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in Article VI of this chapter.
F. Remedial Action. Take action to remedy violations of this chapter as specified in SLTCC § 6.65.080 .
(Ord. 910 § 1 (4-3); Code 1997 § 34-15)
§ 6.65.160. Appeals. ¶
An appeal of a requirement, decision, or determination made by the floodplain administrator may be made pursuant to Chapter 2.35 SLTCC.
(Ord. 910 § 1 (4-4); Ord. 1105 § 1 (Exh. B); Code 1997 § 34-16)