§ 16.40.050.1.3. Intent and purpose.

The purpose of this section and the flood load and flood resistant construction requirements of the Florida Building Code are to establish minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety, and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to flooding through regulation of development in flood hazard areas to:

1.

Minimize unnecessary or prolonged disruption of commerce, access and public service during times of flooding;

2.

Require the use of appropriate practices, at the time of initial construction, in order to prevent or minimize future flood damage;

3.

Manage filling, grading, dredging, mining, paving, excavation, drilling operations, storage of equipment or materials, and other development which may increase flood damage or erosion potential;

4.

Manage the alteration of flood hazard areas, watercourses, and shorelines to minimize the impact of development on the natural and beneficial functions of the floodplain;

5.

Minimize damage to public and private facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges located in floodplains;

6.

Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of flood hazard areas in such a manner as to minimize future flood blight areas;

7.

Minimize the need for future expenditure of public funds for flood control projects and response to and recovery from flood events;

8.

Meet the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program for community participation as set forth in the Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations, section 59.22;

9.

Protect human life and health;

10.

Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;

11.

Ensure that property owners are notified yearly the property is in a flood prone area;

12.

Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety and property due to water or erosion hazards or which result in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights or velocities; and

13.

Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards to other lands.

(Ord. No. 98-H, § 1, 12-5-2013)