Chapter 18 — Flood Prevention
Definitions.
Sec. 18-1. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Addition (to an existing building) means any walled and roofed expansion to the perimeter of a building in which the addition is connected by a common loadbearing wall other than a firewall. Any walled and roofed addition which is connected by a firewall or is separated by an independent perimeter loadbearing wall shall be considered new construction.
Adjacent to the future-conditions floodplain means those areas that are at or lower in elevation than either three feet above the base flood elevation or one foot above the future-conditions flood elevation, whichever is higher, unless the area is hydraulically independent (meaning absolutely no connection to the flooding source such as through pipes, sewer laterals, down drains, foundation drains, ground seepage, overland flow, gated or valved pipes, excavated and backfilled trenches, etc. with no fill or other manmade barriers creating the separation).
Appeal means a request for a review of the city's interpretation of any provision of this chapter.
Area of shallow flooding means a designated AO or AH zone on a community's flood insurance rate map (FIRM) with base flood depths from one to three feet, and/or where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate, and where velocity flow may be evident.
Area of special flood hazard means the land subject to a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. The term "area of special flood hazard" includes all floodplain and floodprone areas at or below the base flood elevation (including A, A1-30, A-99, AE, AO, AH, and AR on the FHBM or the FIRM), all floodplain and floodprone areas at or below the future-conditions flood elevation, and all other floodprone areas as referenced in section 18-6. All streams with a drainage area of 100 acres or greater shall have the area of special flood hazard delineated.
Base flood means the flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, also known as the 100-year flood.
Base flood elevation means the highest water surface elevation anticipated at any given point during the base flood.
Basement means that portion of a building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides.
Building: See "structure".
City shall be the City of Dallas, Georgia.
County shall be Paulding County, Georgia.
Development means any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, clearing, grubbing, grading, paving, any other installation of impervious cover, excavation or drilling operations or storage of equipment or materials.
Elevated building means a non-basement building built to have the lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area elevated above the ground level by means of solid foundation perimeter walls, pilings, columns, piers, or shear walls adequately anchored so as not to impair the structural integrity of the building during a base flood event.
Existing construction means any structure for which the start of construction commenced before 11/8/1999, the date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived.
Existing manufactured home park or subdivision means a manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including at a minimum the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads) is completed before 11/08/1999 the ordinance date from which this chapter is derived.
Expansion to an existing manufactured home park or subdivision means the preparation of additional sites by the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed, including the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads.
FEMA means the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Flood or flooding means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
Flood hazard boundary map (FHBM) means an official map of a community, issued by the Federal Insurance Administration, where the boundaries of areas of special flood hazard have been defined as zone A.
Flood insurance rate map (FIRM) means an official map of a community, issued by the Federal Insurance Administration, delineating the areas of special flood hazard and/or risk premium zones applicable to the community.
Flood insurance study (FIS) means the official report by the Federal Insurance Administration evaluating flood hazards and containing flood profiles and water surface elevations of the base flood.
Floodplain means any land area susceptible to flooding.
Floodproofing means any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents.
Floodway or regulatory floodway means the channel of a stream or other watercourse and the adjacent areas of the floodplain which is necessary to contain and discharge the base flood flow without cumulatively increasing the base flood elevation more than one foot.
Functionally dependent use means a use which cannot perform its intended purpose unless it is located or carried out in close proximity to water.
Future conditions flood means the flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year based on future-conditions hydrology. Also known as the 100-year future-conditions flood.
Future-conditions flood elevation means the flood standard equal to or higher than the base flood elevation. The term "future-conditions flood elevation" means the highest water surface anticipated at any given point during the future-conditions flood.
Future-conditions floodplain means any land area susceptible to flooding by the future-conditions flood.
Future-conditions hydrology means the flood discharges associated with projected land-use conditions based on a community's zoning map, comprehensive land-use plans, and/or watershed study projections, and without consideration of projected future construction of flood detention structures or projected future hydraulic modifications within a stream or other waterway, such as bridge and culvert construction, fill and excavation.
Highest adjacent grade means the highest natural elevation of the ground surface, prior to construction, adjacent to the proposed foundation of a building.
Lowest floor means the lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area, including basement. An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure, used solely for parking of vehicles, building access, or storage, in an area other than a basement, is not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of other provisions of this chapter.
Manufactured home means a building, transportable in one or more sections, built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. The term "manufactured home" includes any structure commonly referred to as a "mobile home" regardless of the date of manufacture. The term "manufactured home" also includes parked trailers, travel trailers and similar transportable structures placed on a site for 180 consecutive days or longer and intended to be improved property.
Manufactured home park or subdivision means a parcel (or continuous parcels) of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
Mean sea level means the average height of the sea for all stages of the tide. It is used as a reference for establishing various elevations within the floodplain. For purposes of this chapter the term is synonymous with National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) and/or the North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) of 1988.
National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD), as corrected in 1929, means a vertical control used as a reference for establishing varying elevations within the floodplain.
New construction means any structure (see definition) for which the start of construction commenced after 11/08/1999 the date of the city floodplain ordinance and includes any subsequent improvements to the structure.
New manufactured home park or subdivision means a manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including at a minimum, the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads) is completed on or after 11/08/1999 the date of the city floodplain ordinance.
North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) of 1988 means a vertical control used as a reference for establishing varying elevations within the floodplain.
Owner means the legal or beneficial owner of a site, including, but not limited to, a mortgagee or vendee in possession, receiver, executor, trustee, lessee or other person in control of the site.
Permit means the permit issued by the city to the applicant which is required prior to undertaking any development activity.
Site means the parcel of land being developed, or the portion thereof on which the development project is located.
Start of construction means the date the permit was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, or improvement was within 180 days of the permit date. The actual start means the first placement of permanent construction of the structure such as the pouring of slabs or footings, installation of piles, construction of columns, or any work beyond the stage of excavation, and includes the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include initial land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; or include the installation of streets and/or walkways; or include excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms; or include the installation on the property of buildings appurtenant to the permitted structure, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or part of the main structure. Accessory structures are not exempt from any chapter requirements. For a substantial improvement, the actual start of construction means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of a building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
State means the State of Georgia.
Structure means a walled and roofed building that is principally above ground, a manufactured home, a gas or liquid storage tank.
Subdivision means the division of a tract or parcel of land resulting in one or more new lots or building sites for the purpose, whether immediately or in the future, of sale, other transfer of ownership or land development, and includes divisions of land resulting from or made in connection with the layout or development of a new street or roadway or a change in an existing street or roadway.
Substantial damage means damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before damaged condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
Substantial improvement.
The term "substantial improvement" includes structures which have incurred substantial damage regardless of the actual amount of repair work performed. For the purposes of this definition, substantial improvement is considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
Substantially improved existing manufactured home park or subdivision means where the repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation or improvement of the streets, utilities and pads equals or exceeds 50 percent of the value of the streets, utilities and pads before the repair, reconstruction or improvement commenced.
Variance means a grant of relief from the requirements of this chapter which permits construction in a manner otherwise prohibited by this chapter.
Violation means the failure of a structure or other development to be fully compliant with the community's floodplain management regulations. A structure or other development without the elevation certificate, other certificates, or other evidence of compliance required in this chapter is presumed to be in violation until such time as that documentation is provided. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Purpose and intent.
Sec. 18-2. Purpose and intent.
The purpose of this chapter is to protect, maintain and enhance the public health, safety, environment and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in flood hazard areas, as well as to protect the beneficial uses of floodplain areas for water quality protection, streambank and stream corridor protection, wetlands preservation and ecological and environmental protection by provisions designed to:
Applicability.
Sec. 18-3. Applicability.
This chapter shall be applicable to all areas within the city. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Administrator designated.
Sec. 18-4. Administrator designated.
The City of Dallas, Georgia's Community Development Director/Building Official or his/her designee is hereby appointed to administer and implement the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Duties and responsibilities of administrator.
Sec. 18-5. Duties and responsibilities of administrator.
Basis for area of special flood hazard; flood area maps and studies.
Sec. 18-6. Basis for area of special flood hazard; flood area maps and studies.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following are adopted by reference:
Relationship to other regulations.
Sec. 18-7. Relationship to other regulations.
This chapter is not intended to modify or repeal any other ordinance, rule, regulation, statute, easement, covenant, deed restriction or other provision of law. The requirements of this chapter are in addition to the requirements of any other ordinance, rule, regulation or other provision of law. Where any provision of this chapter imposes restrictions different from those imposed by any other ordinance, rule, regulation or other provision of law, whichever provision is more restrictive or impose higher protective standards for human health or the environment shall control. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Warning and disclaimer of liability.
Sec. 18-8. Warning and disclaimer of liability.
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; flood heights may be increased by manmade or natural causes. This chapter does not imply that land outside the areas of special flood hazard 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 or by any officer or employee thereof for any flood damages that result from reliance on this chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Statutory authority.
Sec. 18-9. Statutory authority.
Article IX, Section II of the Constitution of the State of Georgia and O.C.G.A. § 36-1-20(a), have delegated the responsibility to local governmental units to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the City of Dallas, Georgia, does ordain this chapter and establishes this set of floodplain management and flood hazard reduction provisions for the purpose of regulating the use of flood hazard areas. It is determined that the regulation of flood hazard areas and the prevention of flood damage are in the public interest and will minimize threats to public health and safety, as well as to private and public property. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Secs. 18-10—18-32. Reserved.
Application requirements.
Sec. 18-33. Application requirements.
No owner or developer shall perform any development activities on a site where an area of special flood hazard is located without first meeting the requirements of this chapter prior to commencing the proposed activity. Unless specifically excluded by this chapter, any landowner or developer desiring a permit for a development activity shall submit to the city a permit application on a form provided by the city for that purpose. No permit will be approved for any development activities that do not meet the requirements, restrictions and criteria of this chapter. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Floodplain management plan requirements.
Sec. 18-34. Floodplain management plan requirements.
Construction stage submittal requirements.
Sec. 18-35. Construction stage submittal requirements.
Secs. 18-36—18-58. Reserved.
Floodplain and floodway boundaries.
Sec. 18-59. Floodplain and floodway boundaries.
General future-conditions floodplain standards.
Sec. 18-60. General future-conditions floodplain standards.
Engineering study requirements for floodplain encroachments.
Sec. 18-61. Engineering study requirements for floodplain encroachments.
An engineering study is required, as appropriate to the proposed development activities on the site, whenever a development proposes to disturb any land within the future-conditions floodplain, except for a residential single-lot development on streams without established base flood elevations and/or floodways for which the provisions of section 18-88 apply. This study shall be prepared by a currently registered professional engineer in the state and made a part of the application for a permit. This information shall be submitted to and approved by the city prior to the approval of any permit which would authorize the disturbance of land located within the future-conditions floodplain. Such study shall include:
The failure to provide engineering study, shall be a violation of this chapter and shall be grounds to revoke any permit issued pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Floodway encroachments.
Sec. 18-62. Floodway encroachments.
Located within areas of special flood hazard are areas designated as floodway. A floodway may be an extremely hazardous area due to velocity floodwaters, debris or erosion potential. In addition, floodways must remain free of encroachment in order to allow for the discharge of the base flood without increased flood heights. Therefore, the following provisions shall apply:
Maintenance requirements.
Sec. 18-63. Maintenance requirements.
The property owner shall be responsible for continuing maintenance as may be needed within an altered or relocated portion of a floodplain on his property so that the flood-carrying or flood storage capacity is not diminished. The city may direct the property owner (at no cost to the city) to restore the flood-carrying or flood storage capacity of the floodplain if the owner has not performed maintenance as required by the approved floodplain management plan on file with the city.
The failure to provide any such required maintenance, shall be a violation of this chapter and shall constitute grounds to revoke any permit issued pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Secs. 18-64—18-84. Reserved.
All areas of special flood hazard.
Sec. 18-85. All areas of special flood hazard.
In all areas of special flood hazard, the following provisions apply:
If the proposed development is located in multiple-flood zones or multiple-base flood elevations cross the proposed site, the higher or more restrictive base flood elevation or future-conditions elevation and development standards shall take precedence. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Structures and buildings within the future-conditions floodplain.
Sec. 18-86. Structures and buildings within the future-conditions floodplain.
The following provisions, in addition to those in section 18-85, shall apply:
Structures and buildings authorized adjacent to the future-conditions floodplain.
Sec. 18-87. Structures and buildings authorized adjacent to the future-conditions floodplain.
Residential single-lot developments on streams without established base flood elevations and/or floodway (A zones).
Sec. 18-88. Residential single-lot developments on streams without established base flood elevations and/or floodway (A zones).
For a residential single-lot development not part of a subdivision that has areas of special flood hazard, where streams exist but no base flood data have been provided (A zones), the city shall review and reasonably utilize any available scientific or historic flood elevation data, base flood elevation and floodway data, or future-conditions flood elevation data available from a federal, state, local or other source, in order to administer the provisions and standards of this chapter. If data are not available from any of these sources, the following provisions shall apply:
Areas of shallow flooding (AO zones).
Sec. 18-89. Areas of shallow flooding (AO zones).
Areas of special flood hazard may include designated AO shallow flooding areas. These areas have base flood depths of one to four feet above ground, with no clearly defined channel. In these areas, the following provisions apply:
Subdivisions.
Sec. 18-90. Subdivisions.
In subdivisions in special flood hazard areas, the following provisions apply:
The failure to adhere to these subdivision requirements, shall be a violation of this chapter and shall constitute grounds to revoke any permit issued pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Secs. 18-91—18-108. Reserved.
Procedures.
Sec. 18-109. Procedures.
The variance and appeals procedures of this division shall apply to an applicant who has been denied a permit for a development activity or to an owner or developer who has not applied for a permit because it is clear that the proposed development activity would be inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter. A request for a variance may be submitted by an applicant who has been denied a permit by the city or by an owner or developer who has not previously applied for a permit for the reasons stated hereinabove.
Conditions for issuance.
Sec. 18-110. Conditions for issuance.
Secs. 18-111—18-133. Reserved.
Violations, enforcement and penalties.
Sec. 18-134. Violations, enforcement and penalties.
Any action or inaction which violates the provisions of this chapter or the requirements of an approved stormwater management plan or permit may be subject to the enforcement actions outlined in this article. Any such action or inaction which is continuous with respect to time is deemed to be a public nuisance and if adjudicated to be a public nuisance by the Municipal Court of the City of Dallas, Georgia, may be abated by the Municipal Court of the City of Dallas, Georgia unless adjudication is required to be in the Superior Court of Paulding County, Georgia due to a request for injunctive or other equitable relief. The imposition of any of the penalties set forth in section 18-136 shall not prevent such equitable relief. (Ord. No. OA-2019-01, 6-3-2019)
Notice of violation.
Sec. 18-135. Notice of violation.
If the city determines that an applicant or other responsible person has failed to comply with the terms and conditions of a permit, an approved stormwater management plan or the provisions of this chapter, it shall issue a written notice of violation to such applicant or other responsible person. Where a person is engaged in activity covered by this chapter without having first secured a permit therefore, the notice of violation shall be served on the owner or the responsible person in charge of the activity being conducted on the site. The notice of violation shall contain:
Penalties.
Sec. 18-136. Penalties.
In the event the remedial measures described in the notice of violation have not been completed by the date set forth for such completion in the notice of violation, any one or more of the following actions or penalties may be taken or assessed against the person to whom the notice of violation was directed. Before taking any of the following actions or imposing any of the following penalties, the city shall first notify the applicant or other responsible person in writing of its intended action, and shall provide a reasonable opportunity, of not less than ten days (except, that in the event the violation constitutes an immediate danger to public health or public safety, 24 hours' notice shall be sufficient) to cure such violation. In the event the applicant or other responsible person fails to cure such violation after such notice and cure period, the city may take any one or more of the following actions or impose any one or more of the following penalties: