Torrance Municipal Code Art. 3 General Provisions

This Chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazards within the jurisdiction of the City of Torrance.

(Amended by O-3685)

The areas of special flood hazard identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the "The Flood Insurance Study of the City of Torrance" dated June 18, 1979, with accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s) and Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps (FBFM’s), dated December 18, 1979 and all subsequent amendments and/or revisions, are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this ordinance and Chapter. This FIS and attendant mapping is the minimum area of applicability of this ordinance and Chapter and may be supplemented by studies for other areas which allow implementation of this ordinance and Chapter and which are recommended to the City Council of the City of Torrance by the Floodplain Administrator. The study, FIRM’s and FBFM’s are on file at the Community Development Department/Engineering Division, 3031 Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA.

No structure or land shall hereafter be constructed, located, extended, converted or altered without full compliance with the terms of this Chapter and other applicable regulations. Violations of the provisions of this Chapter by failure to comply with any of its requirements (including violations of conditions and safeguards established in connection with conditions) shall constitute a misdemeanor. Nothing in this Chapter shall prevent the City Council of the City of Torrance from taking such lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.

This Chapter is not intended to repeal, abrogate, or impair any existing easements, covenants, or deed restrictions. However, where this Chapter and another ordinance, easement, covenant or deed restriction conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent restrictions shall prevail.

In the interpretation and application of this Chapter, all provisions shall be:

a) Considered as minimum requirements;

b) Liberally construed in favor of the governing body; and

c) Deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers granted under State statutes.

The degree of flood protection required by this Chapter is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific and engineering considerations. Larger floods can and will occur on rare occasions. Flood height may be increased by manmade or natural causes. This Chapter does not imply that land outside the areas of special flood hazards or uses permitted within such areas will be free from flooding or flood damages. This Chapter shall not create liability on the part of the City of Torrance, any officer or employee thereof, or the Federal Insurance Administration, for any flood damages that result in reliance on this Chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.

This Chapter and the various parts thereof are declared to be severable. Should any section of this Chapter be declared by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decisions shall not affect the validity of the Chapter as a whole, or any portion thereof other than the section so declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.