A. General Standards. In all areas of special flood hazards the following standards are required.

   1. Anchoring.

   a. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure in accordance with sound engineering practices.

   All manufactured homes or those to be substantially improved shall be elevated on a permanent foundation such that the lowest floor of the manufactured home is at or above the base flood elevation and is securely anchored to an adequately anchored foundation system.

   b. All manufactured homes shall be anchored to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement. Guidance for anchoring techniques is published in FEMA’s manual Manufactured Home Installation in Flood Hazard Areas, September, 1985. Anchoring may also be by providing over-the-top and frame ties to ground anchors. Specific requirements may be that:

      i. Over-the-top ties be provided at each of the four corners of the manufactured home, with manufactured homes less than fifty (50) feet long requiring one additional tie per side at an intermediate location, and manufactured homes fifty (50) feet or longer requiring two additional ties per side at intermediate locations;

      ii. Frame ties be provided at each corner of the home with manufactured homes less than fifty (50) feet long requiring four additional ties per side at intermediate locations, and manufactured homes fifty (50) feet or longer requiring five additional ties per side at intermediate locations;

      iii. All components of the anchoring system be capable of carrying a force of four thousand eight hundred (4,800) pounds; and

      iv. Any additions to the manufactured home be similarly anchored.

   2. Construction Materials and Methods.

   a. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage.

   b. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed using methods and practices that minimize flood damage.

   c. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be in accordance with the County’s Building and Zoning Codes, and all other applicable regulations.

   d. For all new construction and substantial improvements, fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are subject to flooding shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect or must meet or exceed the following minimum criteria: A minimum of two openings having a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be provided. The bottom on all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade. Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.

   3. Utilities.

   a. All new and replacement water supply systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the system;

   b. New and replacement sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the systems and discharge from the systems into flood waters;

   c. On-site waste disposal systems shall be located to avoid impairment to them or contamination from them during flooding, as determined by the Pueblo City-County Health Department and/or other agencies having jurisdiction; and

   d. Electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air-conditioning equipment and other service facilities shall be designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.

   4. Subdivision Proposals.

   a. All subdivision proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage;

   b. All subdivision proposals shall have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems located and constructed to minimize flood damage;

   c. All subdivision proposals shall have adequate drainage provided to reduce exposure to flood damage; and

   d. Base flood elevation data shall be provided for subdivision proposals and other proposed development.

   5. Encroachments. The cumulative effect of any proposed development, when combined with all other existing and anticipated development, shall not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point.

   B. Specific Standards. In all areas of special flood hazards where base flood elevation data have been provided as set forth in Section 17.108.070 or in Section 17.108.140(B), the following standards are required.

   1. Residential Construction. New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above base flood elevation.

   2. Nonresidential Construction. New construction and substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial or other nonresidential structure shall either have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to the level of the base flood elevation; or together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, shall:

   a. Be flood proofed so that below the base flood level the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water;

   b. Have structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy; and

   c. Provide that where a nonresidential structure is intended to be made watertight below the base flood level:

      i. A registered professional engineer or architect shall develop and/or review structural design, specifications and plans for the construction, and shall certify that the design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the applicable provisions of this section, and

      ii. A record of such certification which includes the specific elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which such structures are flood proofed shall be maintained with the official designated by the community under Section 17.108.130.