Watsonville Municipal Code Art. 3 General Provisions

This Chapter shall apply to all areas designated special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the City of Watsonville.

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002)

The areas of special flood hazard identified by the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS), a scientific and engineering report entitled “Flood Insurance Study Santa Cruz, County and Incorporated Areas,” dated March 2, 2006, and accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), dated March 2, 2006, and all subsequent amendments and/or revisions, are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this Chapter. This FIS and attendant mapping is the minimum area of applicability of this Chapter and may be supplemented by studies for other areas which allow implementation of this Chapter and which are recommended to the City of Watsonville by the Floodplain Administrator.

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002, as amended by § 1, Ord. 1192-06 (CM), eff. April 13, 2006)

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. No permit shall be issued until the project conforms with this Chapter. Violation of the requirements (including violations of conditions and safeguards established in connection with conditions) shall constitute a misdemeanor. Nothing herein shall prevent the City of Watsonville from taking such lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002)

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

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002)

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

(a) Considered as minimum requirements;

(b) Liberally construed in favor of compliance and enforcement; and

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

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002)

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 heights may be increased by man-made 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 Watsonville, any officer or employee thereof, the State of California, or the Federal Insurance Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, for any flood damages that result from reliance on this Chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder. The City hereby declares its immunity from any liability for flood damages incurred by any person; that the provisions of this Chapter are adopted according to federal regulations in order to provide property owners with the opportunity of acquiring flood insurance and other privileges; and that the adoption of this Chapter shall not constitute any admission of fault or liability of the City.

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002)

Legislature of the State of California has, in Government Code Sections 65302, 65560, and 65800, conferred upon local governments the authority to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry.

(§ 1, Ord. 1422-21 (CM), eff. November 11, 2021)

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is, for any reason, declared by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the chapter as a whole, or any part thereof, other than the part so declared.

(§ 1, Ord. 1422-21 (CM), eff. November 11, 2021)