[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Sanford 11-18-1997; as amended 5-6-2008. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
Certain areas of the Town of Sanford, Maine are subject
to periodic flooding, causing serious damages to properties within
these areas. Relief is available in the form of flood insurance as
authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. Therefore,
the Town of Sanford, Maine has chosen to become a participating community
in the National Flood Insurance Program, and agrees to comply with
the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (P.L.
90-488, as amended) as delineated in this chapter.
B.
It is the intent of the Town of Sanford, Maine to
require the recognition and evaluation of flood hazards in all official
actions relating to land use in the floodplain areas having special
flood hazards.
C.
The Town of Sanford has the legal authority to adopt
land use and control measures to reduce future flood losses pursuant
to 30-A M.R.S.A. §§ 3001 - 3007, 4352, 4401 - 4407,
and Title 38 MRSA, Section 440.
D.
The National Flood Insurance Program, established
in the aforesaid Act, provides that areas of the Town of Sanford having
a special flood hazard be identified by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency and that floodplain management measures be applied in such
flood hazard areas. This chapter establishes a Flood Hazard Development
Permit system and review procedure for development activities in the
designated flood hazard areas of the Town of Sanford, Maine.
E.
The areas of special flood hazard, Zones A and AE,
are identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a report
titled "Flood Insurance Study-Town of Sanford, Maine, York County,"
dated July 20, 1998, which report, with accompanying "Flood Insurance
Rate Map" dated July 20, 1998, which are hereby adopted by reference
and declared to be a part of this chapter.
Before any construction or other development (as defined in § 265-12), including the placement of manufactured homes, begins within any areas of special flood hazard established in § 265-1, a Flood Hazard Development Permit shall be obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer. This permit shall be in addition to any other permits which may be required pursuant to the codes and ordinances of the Town of Sanford, Maine.
The application for a Flood Hazard Development
Permit shall be submitted to the Code Enforcement Officer and shall
include the following (Subsections H through K(2) apply only to new
construction and substantial improvements):
A.
The name, address and phone number of the applicant,
owner, and contractor;
B.
An address and a map indicating the location of the
construction site;
C.
A site plan showing the location of existing and/or
proposed development, including but not limited to structures, sewage
disposal facilities, water supply facilities, areas to be cut and
filled, and lot dimensions;
D.
A statement of the intended use of the structure and/or
development;
E.
A statement of the cost of the development including
all materials and labor;
F.
A statement as to the type of sewage system proposed;
G.
Specification of dimensions of the proposed structure
and/or development;
H.
The elevation in relation to the National Geodetic
Vertical Datum (NGVD), or to a locally established datum in Zone A
only, of the:
(1)
base flood at the proposed site of all new or substantially
improved structures, which is determined:
(a)
in Zone AE, from data contained in the "Flood Insurance Study - Town of Sanford, Maine", as described in § 265-1; or
(b)
in Zone A:
[2]
from the contour elevation extrapolated from
a best fit analysis of the floodplain boundary when overlaid onto
a USGS Quadrangle Map or other topographic map prepared by a Professional
Land Surveyor or registered professional engineer, if the floodplain
boundary has a significant correlation to the elevation contour line(s);
or, in the absence of all other data,
[3]
to be the elevation of the ground at the intersection
of the floodplain boundary and a line perpendicular to the shoreline
which passes along the ground through the site of the proposed building;
(2)
highest and lowest grades at the site adjacent to
the walls of the proposed building;
(3)
lowest floor, including basement, and whether or not
such structures contain a basement; and,
(4)
level, in the case of non-residential structures only,
to which the structure will be floodproofed;
I.
A description of an elevation reference point established on the site of all developments for which elevation standards apply as required in § 265-6;
J.
A written certification by a Professional Land Surveyor;
registered professional engineer or architect that the base flood
elevation and grade elevations shown on the application are accurate;
K.
The following certifications as required in § 265-6 by a registered professional engineer or architect:
(2)
a Hydraulic Openings Certificate to verify that engineered hydraulic openings in foundation walls will meet the standards of § 265-6L(2)(a);
L.
A description of the extent to which any water course
will be altered or relocated as a result of the proposed development;
and,
A.
A nonrefundable application fee of twenty-five dollars
($25.00) for all minor development and fifty dollars ($50.00) for
all new construction or substantial improvements shall be paid to
the Town of Sanford, and a copy of a receipt for the same shall accompany
the application.
B.
An additional fee may be charged if the Code Enforcement
Officer and/or Zoning Board of Appeals needs the assistance of a professional
engineer or other expert. The expert's fee shall be paid in full by
the applicant within ten (10) days after the Town submits a bill to
the applicant. Failure to pay the bill shall constitute a violation
of this chapter and be grounds for the issuance of a stop-work order.
An expert shall not be hired by the municipality at the expense of
an applicant until the applicant has either consented to such hiring
in writing or been given an opportunity to be heard on the subject.
An applicant who is dissatisfied with a decision of the Code Enforcement
Officer may appeal that decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
C.
The Town Council shall establish by order, after prior
notice and public hearing, a fee schedule for all permits required
by this Ordinance and for such other zoning fees as the Town Council
deems appropriate.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall:
A.
Review all applications for a flood hazard development permit to assure that proposed developments are reasonably safe from flooding and to determine that all pertinent requirements of § 265-6 (Development Standards) have been or will be met;
B.
Utilize, in the review of all Flood Hazard Development
Permit applications:
(1)
the base flood and floodway data contained in the "Flood Insurance Study-Town of Sanford, Maine," as described in § 265-1;
(2)
in special flood hazard areas where base flood elevation and floodway data not provided, the Code Enforcement Officer shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data from federal, state, or other technical sources, including information obtained pursuant to §§ 265-3H(1)(b), 265-6K and 265-8D, in order to administer § 265-6 of this chapter; and,
(3)
when the community establishes a base flood elevation in a Zone A by methods outlined in § 265-3H(1)(b), the community shall submit that data to the Maine Floodplain Management Program in the State Planning Office.
C.
Make interpretations of the location of boundaries of special flood hazard areas shown on the maps described in § 265-1 of this chapter;
D.
In the review of Flood Hazard Development Permit applications,
determine that all necessary permits have been obtained from those
federal, state, and local government agencies from which prior approval
is required by federal or state law, including but not limited to
Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments
of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 1334;
E.
Notify adjacent municipalities, the Department of
Environmental Protection, and the Maine Floodplain Management Program
in the State Planning Office prior to any alteration or relocation
of a water course and submit copies of such notifications to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency;
F.
If the application satisfies the requirements of this
chapter, approve the issuance of one of the following Flood Hazard
Permits based on the type of development:
(1)
A two part Flood Hazard Development Permit elevated structures. Part I shall authorize the applicant to build a structure to and including the first horizontal floor only above the base flood level. At that time the applicant shall provide the Code Enforcement Officer with an Elevation Certificate completed by a Professional Land Surveyor, registered professional engineer or architect based on the Part I permit construction, "as built," for verifying compliance with the elevation requirements of § 265-6, Subsections F, G or H. Following review of the Elevation Certificate data, which shall take place within seventy-two (72) hours of receipt of the application, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue Part II of the Flood Hazard Development Permit. Part II shall authorize the applicant to complete the construction project; or,
(2)
Flood Hazard Development Permit for Floodproofing of Non-Residential Structures that are new construction or substantially improved non-residential structures that are not being elevated but that meet the floodproofing standards of § 265-6G(1)(a), (b), and (c). The application for this permit shall include a Floodproofing Certificate signed by a registered professional engineer or architect; or,
(3)
Flood Hazard Development Permit for Minor Development for all development that is not new construction or a substantial improvement, such as repairs, maintenance, renovations, or additions, whose value is less than fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure. Minor development also includes, but is not limited to accessory structures as provided for in § 265-6J, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations, storage of equipment or materials, deposition or extraction of materials, public or private sewage disposal systems or water supply facilities that do not involve structures and non structural projects such as bridges, dams, towers, fencing, pipelines, wharves and piers.
G.
Maintain, as a permanent record, copies of all Flood Hazard Development Permit Applications, corresponding Permits issued, and data relevant thereto, including reports of the Zoning Board of Appeals on variances granted under the provisions of § 265-9 of this chapter, and copies of Elevation Certificates, Floodproofing Certificates, Certificates of Compliance and certifications of design standards required under the provisions of §§ 265-3, 265-6 and 265-7 of this chapter.
All developments in areas of special flood hazard
shall meet the following applicable standards:
A.
All Development - All development shall:
(1)
be designed or modified and adequately anchored to
prevent flotation (excluding piers and docks), collapse or lateral
movement of the development resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic
loads, including the effects of buoyancy;
(2)
use construction materials that are resistant to flood
damage;
(3)
use construction methods and practices that will minimize
flood damage; and
(4)
use electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and
air conditioning equipment, and other service facilities that are
designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating
within the components during flooding conditions.
B.
Water Supply - All new and replacement water supply
systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of
floodwaters into the systems.
C.
Sanitary Sewage Systems - All new and replacement
sanitary sewage systems shall be designed and located to minimize
or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters into the system and discharges
from the system into floodwaters.
D.
On-Site Waste Disposal Systems - On-site waste disposal
systems shall be located and constructed to avoid impairment to them
or contamination from them during floods.
E.
Watercourse Carrying Capacity - All development associated
with altered or relocated portions of a watercourse shall be constructed
and maintained in such a manner that no reduction occurs in the flood
carrying capacity of the watercourse.
F.
Residential - New construction or substantial improvement
of any residential structure located within:
(1)
Zone AE shall have the lowest floor (including basement)
elevated to at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation.
(2)
Zone A shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation utilizing information obtained pursuant to § 265-3H(1)(b), § 265-5B; or § 265-8D.
G.
Non-Residential - New construction or substantial
improvement of any non-residential structure located within:
(1)
Zone AE shall have the lowest floor (including basement)
elevated to at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation,
or together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities shall:
(a)
be floodproofed to at least one (1) foot above
the base flood elevation so that below that elevation 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 the effects of buoyancy; and
(c)
be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the floodproofing design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the provisions of this section. Such certification shall be provided with the application for a Flood Hazard Development Permit as required by § 265-3K and shall include a record of the elevation above mean sea level to which the structure is floodproofed.
(2)
Zone A shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least one foot above the base flood elevation utilizing information obtained pursuant to § 265-3H(1)(b); 265-5B; or § 265-8D, or
H.
Manufactured Homes - New or substantially improved
manufactured homes located within:
(1)
Zone AE shall:
(a)
be elevated such that the lowest floor (including
basement) of the manufactured home is at least one (1) foot above
the base flood elevation;
(b)
be on a permanent foundation, which may be poured
masonry slab or foundation walls, with hydraulic openings, or may
be reinforced piers or block supports, any of which support the manufactured
home so that no weight is supported by its wheels and axles; and,
(c)
be securely anchored to an adequately anchored
foundation system to resist flotation, collapse, or lateral movement.
Methods of anchoring may include, but are not limited to:
[1]
over-the-top ties anchored to the ground at
the four (4) corners of the manufactured home, plus two (2) additional
ties per side at intermediate points (manufactured homes less than
fifty [50] feet long require one [1] additional tie per side); or
by
[2]
frame ties at each corner of the home, plus
five (5) additional ties along each side at intermediate points (manufactured
homes less than fifty [50] feet long require four [4] additional ties
per side).
[3]
all components of the anchoring system described in § 265-6H(1)(c)[1] and [2] shall be capable of carrying a force of four thousand eight hundred (4,800) pounds.
(2)
Zone A shall:
(a)
be elevated on a permanent foundation, as described in § 265-6H(1)(b), such that the lowest floor (including basement) of the manufactured home is at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation utilizing information obtained pursuant to §§ 265-3H(1)(b); 265-5B; or 265-8D; and
(b)
meet the anchoring requirements of § 265-6H(1)(c).
I.
Recreational vehicles located within:
(1)
Zone AE shall either:
(a)
be on the site for fewer than one hundred eighty
(180) consecutive days,
(b)
be fully licensed and ready for highway use.
A recreational vehicle is ready for highway use if it is on its wheels
or jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick-disconnect
type utilities and security devices, and has no permanently attached
additions; or,
J.
Accessory Structures - Accessory Structures, as defined in § 265-12, located within Zones AE and A, shall be exempt from the elevation criteria required in § 265-6F & G above, if all other requirements of § 265-6 and all the following requirements are met. Accessory Structures shall:
(1)
be five hundred (500) square feet or less and have
a value less than three thousand dollars ($3,000);
(2)
have unfinished interiors and not be used for human
habitation;
(3)
have hydraulic openings, as specified in § 265-6L(2), in at least two different walls of the accessory structure;
(4)
be located outside the floodway;
(5)
when possible be constructed and placed on the building
site so as to offer the minimum resistance to the flow of floodwaters
and be placed further from the source of flooding than is the primary
structure; and,
(6)
have only ground fault interrupt electrical outlets.
The electric service disconnect shall be located above the base flood
elevation and when possible outside the Special Flood Hazard Area.
K.
Floodways.
(1)
In Zone AE riverine areas, encroachments, including
fill, new construction, substantial improvement, and other development
shall not be permitted within a regulatory floodway which is designated
on the community's "Flood Insurance Rate Map" unless a technical evaluation
certified by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating
that such encroachments will not result in any increase in flood levels
within the community during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
(2)
In Zones AE, and A riverine areas for which no regulatory floodway is designated, encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement, and other development shall not be permitted in the floodway as determined in § 265-6K(3) unless a technical evaluation certified by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other existing development and anticipated development:
(a)
will not increase the water surface elevation
of the base flood more than one (1) foot at any point within the community;
and,
(b)
is consistent with the technical criteria contained
in Chapter 5 entitled "Hydraulic Analyses", Flood Insurance Study
- Guidelines and Specifications for Study Contractors, (FEMA 37/January
1995, as amended).
(3)
In Zones AE, and A riverine areas for which no regulatory
floodway is designated, the regulatory floodway is determined to be
the channel of the river or other water course and the adjacent land
areas to a distance of one-half the width of the floodplain as measured
from the normal high water mark to the upland limit of the floodplain.
L.
Enclosed Areas Below the Lowest Floor - New construction or substantial improvement of any structure in Zones AE and A that meets the development standards of this § 265-6 including the elevation requirements of § 265-6, Subsections F, G or H, and is elevated on posts, columns, piers, piles, "stilts," or crawl-spaces may be enclosed below the base flood elevation requirements provided that all the following criteria are met or exceeded:
(2)
Enclosed areas shall be designed to automatically
equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for
the entry and exit of flood water. Designs for meeting this requirement
must either:
(a)
be engineered and certified by a registered
professional engineer or architect; or
(b)
meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
[1]
a minimum of two (2) openings having a total
net area of not less than one (1) square inch for every square foot
of the enclosed area;
[2]
the bottom of all openings shall be below the
base flood elevation and no higher than one (1) foot above the lowest
grade; and
[3]
openings may be equipped with screens, louvers,
valves, or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the
entry and exit of flood waters automatically without any external
influence or control, such as human intervention, including the use
of electrical and other non-automatic mechanical means;
(3)
The enclosed area shall not be used for human habitation;
and,
(4)
The enclosed areas are used solely for building access,
parking of vehicles, or storage.
M.
Bridges - New construction or substantial improvement
of any bridge in Zones AE and A shall be designed such that:
(1)
when possible, the lowest horizontal member (excluding
the pilings, or columns) is elevated to at least one (1) foot above
the base flood elevation; and
(2)
a registered professional engineer shall certify that:
(a)
the structural design and methods of construction shall meet the elevation requirements of this section and the floodway standards of § 265-6K; and
(b)
the foundation and superstructure attached thereto
are designed to resist flotation, collapse and lateral movement due
to the effects of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all
structural components. Water loading values used shall be those associated
with the base flood.
N.
Containment Walls - New construction or substantial
improvement of any containment wall located within:
(1)
Zones AE and A shall:
(a)
have the containment wall elevated to at least
one (1) foot above the base flood elevation;
(b)
have structural components capable of resisting
hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and the effects of buoyancy; and,
(c)
be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the provisions of this section. Such certification shall be provided with the application for a Flood Hazard Development Permit, as required by § 265-3K.
O.
Wharves, Piers and Docks - New construction or substantial
improvement of wharves, piers, and docks are permitted in Zones AE
and A, in and over water and seaward of the mean high tide if the
following requirements are met:
No land in a special flood hazard area shall
be occupied or used and no structure which is constructed or substantially
improved shall be occupied until a Certificate of Compliance is issued
by the Code Enforcement Officer subject to the following provisions:
A.
For New Construction or Substantial Improvement of any elevated structure, the applicant shall submit to the Code Enforcement Officer an elevation certificate completed by a Professional Land Surveyor, registered professional engineer, or architect for compliance with § 265-6, subsections F, G or H.
B.
The applicant shall submit written notification to
the Code Enforcement Officer that the development is complete and
complies with the provisions of this chapter.
The Planning Board or Site Plan Review Committee
shall, when reviewing subdivisions, applications for site plan approval,
and other proposed developments that require review under other federal
law, state law or local ordinances or regulations and all projects
on five (5) or more acres, or in the case of manufactured home parks
divided into two (2) or more lots, assure that:
A.
All such proposals are consistent with the need to
minimize flood damage.
B.
All public utilities and facilities, such as sewer,
gas, electrical and water systems, are located and constructed to
minimize or eliminate flood damages.
C.
Adequate drainage is provided so as to reduce exposure
to flood hazards.
D.
All proposals include base flood elevations, flood
boundaries, and, in a riverine floodplain, floodway data. These determinations
shall be based on engineering practices recognized by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
E.
Any proposed development plan must include a condition of plan approval requiring that structures on any lot in the development having any portion of its land within a Special Flood Hazard Area, are to be constructed in accordance with § 265-6 of this chapter. Such requirement will be included in any deed, lease, purchase and sale agreement, or document transferring or expressing an intent to transfer any interest in real estate or structure, including but not limited to a time-share interest. The condition shall clearly articulate that the municipality may enforce any violation of the construction requirement and that fact shall also be included in the deed or any other document previously described. The construction requirement shall also be clearly stated on any map, plat, or plan to be signed by the Planning Board or Site Plan Review Committee as part of the approval process.
[Amended 5-7-2019 by Order No. 19-258-01]
The Board of Appeals, upon written application
of an aggrieved party, shall hear and decide appeals from determinations
of the Code Enforcement Officer in the administration or enforcement
of the provisions of this chapter. The Board of Appeals may grant
a variance from the requirements of this chapter consistent with state
law and the following criteria:
A.
Variances shall not be granted within any designated
regulatory floodway if any increase in flood levels during the base
flood discharge would result.
B.
Variances shall be granted only upon:
(1)
a showing of good and sufficient cause; and,
(2)
a determination that should a flood comparable to
the base flood occur, the granting of a variance will not result in
increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety, public
expense, or create nuisances, cause fraud or victimization of the
public or conflict with existing local laws or ordinances; and,
(3)
a showing that the issuance of the variance will not
conflict with other state, federal or local laws or ordinances; and,
(4)
a determination that failure to grant the variance
would result in undue hardship, which in this sub-section means:
(a)
that the land in question cannot yield a reasonable
return unless a variance is granted; and,
(b)
that the need for a variance is due to the unique
circumstances of the property and not to the general conditions in
the neighborhood; and,
(c)
that the granting of a variance will not alter
the essential character of the locality; and,
(d)
that the hardship is not the result of action
taken by the applicant or a prior owner.
C.
Variances shall only be issued upon a determination
that the variance is the minimum necessary, considering the flood
hazard, to afford relief.
D.
Variances may be issued for new construction, substantial
improvements, or other development for the conduct of a functionally
dependent use provided that:
E.
Variances may be issued for the repair, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, or restoration of Historic Structures upon the determination
that:
(2)
the proposed repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation,
or restoration will not preclude the structure's continued designation
as an Historic Structure and the variance is the minimum necessary
to preserve the historic character and design of the structure.
F.
Any applicant who meets the criteria of § 265-9A through E shall be notified by the Zoning Board of Appeals in writing over the signature of the Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals that:
(1)
the issuance of a variance to construct a structure
below the base flood level will result in greatly increased premium
rates for flood insurance up to amounts as high as twenty-five dollars
($25) per one hundred dollars ($100) of insurance coverage;
(2)
such construction below the base flood level increases
risks to life and property; and,
(3)
the applicant agrees in writing that the applicant
is fully aware of all the risks inherent in the use of land subject
to flooding, assumes those risks and agrees to indemnify and defend
the municipality against any claims filed against it that are related
to the applicant's decision to use land located in a floodplain and
that the applicant individually releases the municipality from any
claims the applicant may have against the municipality that are related
to the use of land located in a floodplain.
G.
Appeal Procedure for Administrative and Variance Appeals
(1)
An administrative or variance appeal may be taken
to the Zoning Board of Appeals by an aggrieved party within thirty
(30) days after receipt of a written decision of the Enforcement Officer.
(2)
Upon being notified of an appeal, the Code Enforcement
Officer shall transmit to the Zoning Board of Appeals all of the papers
constituting the record of the decision appealed from.
(3)
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall hold a public hearing
on the appeal within thirty (30) days of its receipt of an appeal
request.
(4)
The person filling the appeal shall have the burden
of proof.
(5)
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall decide all appeals
within thirty (30) days after the close of the hearing, and shall
issue a written decision on all appeals.
(6)
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall submit to the Code
Enforcement Officer a report of all variance actions, including justification
for the granting of the variance and an authorization for the Code
Enforcement Officer to issue a Flood Hazard Development Permit, which
includes any conditions to be attached to said permit.
(7)
Any aggrieved party who participated as a party dining
the proceedings before the Zoning Board of Appeals may take an appeal
to Superior Court in accordance with State laws within forty-five
(45) days from the date of any decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer
to enforce the provisions of this chapter pursuant to Title 30-A M.R.S.A.
§ 4452.
B.
The penalties contained in Title 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452
shall apply to any violation of this chapter.
C.
In addition to any other actions, the Code Enforcement
Officer, upon determination that a violation exists, shall submit
a declaration to the Federal Insurance Administrator requesting a
denial of flood insurance. The valid declaration shall consist of:
(1)
the name of the property owner and address or legal
description of the property sufficient to confirm its identity or
location;
(2)
a clear and unequivocal declaration that the property
is in violation of a cited State or local law, regulation, or ordinance;
(3)
a clear statement that the public body making the
declaration has authority to do so and a citation to that authority;
(4)
evidence that the property owner has been provided
notice of the violation and the prospective denial of insurance; and
(5)
a clear statement that the declaration is being submitted
pursuant to Section 1316 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968,
as amended.
This chapter shall not in any way impair or
remove the necessity of compliance with any other applicable rule,
ordinance, regulation, bylaw, permit, or provision of law. Where this
chapter imposes a greater restriction upon the use of land, buildings,
or structures, the provisions of this chapter shall control.
A.
Unless specifically defined below, words and phrases
used in this chapter shall have the same meaning as they have at common
law and to give this chapter its most reasonable application. Words
used in the present tense include the future, the singular number
includes the plural, and the plural number includes the singular.
The word "may" is permissive; "shall" is mandatory and not discretionary.
B.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
ADJACENT GRADE
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
BASE FLOOD
BASEMENT
BUILDING
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
DEVELOPMENT
ELEVATED BUILDING
(1)
(a)
(b)
(2)
ELEVATION CERTIFICATE
FLOOD ELEVATION STUDY
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
FLOOD or FLOODING
(1)
(2)
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
FLOODPLAIN or FLOOD-PRONE AREA
FLOODPROOFING
FLOODWAY
FLOODWAY ENCROACHMENT LINES
FREEBOARD
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT USE
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
LOCALLY ESTABLISHED DATUM
LOWEST FLOOR
MANUFACTURED HOME
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION
MEAN SEA LEVEL
MINOR DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM (NGVD)
NEW CONSTRUCTION
100-YEAR FLOOD
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
REGULATORY FLOODWAY
(1)
(2)
RIVERINE
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA
START OF CONSTRUCTION
STRUCTURE
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
(1)
(2)
VARIANCE
VIOLATION
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
A small detached structure that is incidental and subordinate
to the principal structure.
The natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction
next to the proposed walls of a structure.
The land in the floodplain having a one percent (1%) or greater chance of flooding in any given year, as specifically identified in the Flood Insurance Study cited in § 265-1 of this chapter.
The flood having a one percent (1%) chance of being equaled
or exceeded in any given year, commonly called the "100-year flood."
Any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below
ground level) on all sides.
See "structure."
A document signed by the Code Enforcement Officer stating
that a structure is in compliance with all of the provisions of this
chapter.
A person certified under Title 30-A MRSA, Section 4451 (including
exceptions in subsection 4451, paragraph 1) and employed by a municipality
to enforce all applicable comprehensive planning and land use laws
and ordinances.
Any man made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to buildings or other structures; the construction
of additions or substantial improvements to buildings or other structures,
mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations
or storage of equipment or materials.
A non-basement building:
built, in the case of a building in Zones AE
or A to have the top of the elevated floor elevated above the ground
level by means of pilings, columns, post, piers, or "stilts"; and
adequately anchored so as not to impair the
structural integrity of the building during a flood of up to one (1)
foot above the magnitude of the base flood.
In the case of Zones AE or A, "elevated building" also includes a building elevated by means of fill or solid foundation perimeter walls with hydraulic openings sufficient to facilitate the unimpeded movement of flood waters, as required in § 265-6L.
An official form (FEMA Form 81-31, 02/06, as amended) that:
An examination, evaluation and determination of flood hazards
and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations.
An official map of a community, on which the Federal Insurance
Administrator has delineated both the special hazard areas and the
risk premium zones applicable to the community.
See "Flood Elevation Study."
The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as flash flood or an abnormal tidal surge, or by some similarly unusual and unforeseeable event which results in flooding as defined in Subsection (1)(a) of this definition.
The operation of an overall program of corrective and preventive
measures for reducing flood damage, including but not limited to emergency
preparedness plans, flood-control works, and floodplain management
regulations.
Zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, building codes,
health regulations, special purpose ordinances (such as a floodplain
ordinance, grading ordinance, and erosion control ordinance) and other
applications of police power. The term describes such state or local
regulations, in any combination thereof, which provide standards for
the purpose of flood damage prevention and reduction.
Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from
any source (see "flooding").
Any combination of structural and non-structural 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 contents.
See "regulatory floodway."
The lines marking the limits of floodways on federal, state,
and local floodplain maps.
A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood
level for purposes of floodplain management. Freeboard tends to compensate
for the many unknown factors, such as wave action, bridge openings,
and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed, that
could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated
for a selected size flood and floodway conditions.
A use which cannot perform its intended purpose unless it
is located or carried out in close proximity to water. The term includes
only docking facilities, port facilities that are necessary for the
loading and unloading of cargo or passengers, and ship building and
ship repair facilities, but does not include long-term storage or
related manufacturing facilities.
Any structure that is:
Listed individually in the National Register
of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of Interior)
or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting
the requirements for individual listing on the National Register;
Certified or preliminarily determined by the
Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance
of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined
by the Secretary of the Interior to qualify as a registered historic
district;
Individually listed on a state inventory of
historic places in states with historic preservation programs which
have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
Individually listed on a local inventory of
historic places in communities with historic preservation programs
that have been certified either:
For purposes of this chapter, an elevation established for
a specific site to which all other elevations at the site are referenced.
This elevation is generally not referenced to the National Geodetic
Vertical Datum (NGVD) or any other established datum and is used in
areas where Mean Sea Level data is too far from a specific site to
be practically used.
The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement area is not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable non-elevation design requirements described in § 265-6L of this chapter.
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which
is built on a permanent chassis and is designed for use with or without
a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. For
floodplain management purposes the term "manufactured home" also includes
park trailers, travel trailers, and other similar vehicles placed
on a site for greater than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days.
A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two
(2) or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
For purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program, the
National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929, or other datum, to
which base flood elevations shown on a community's Flood Insurance
Rate Map are referenced.
All development that is not new construction or a substantial improvement, such as repairs, maintenance, or renovations, or additions, whose value is less that fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure. It also includes, but is not limited to: accessory structures as provided for in § 265-6J, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations, storage of equipment or materials, deposition or extraction of materials, public or private sewage disposal systems or water supply facilities that do not involve structures, and non-structural projects such as bridges, dams, towers, fencing, pipelines, wharves, and piers.
The national vertical datum, whose standard was established
in 1929, which is used by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
NGVD was based upon mean sea level in 1929 and also has been called
"1929 Mean Sea Level (MSL)".
Structures for which the "start of construction" commenced
on or after the effective date of the initial floodplain management
regulations adopted by a community and includes any subsequent improvements
to such structures.
See "base flood."
a vehicle which is:
built on a single chassis;
four hundred (400) square feet or less when
measured at the largest horizontal projection, not including slideouts;
designed to be self-propelled or permanently
towable by a motor vehicle; and
designed primarily not for use as a permanent
dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping,
travel, or seasonal use.
The channel of a river or other watercourse
and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge
the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation
more than one (1) foot, and
When not designated on the community's Flood
Insurance Rate Map, it is considered to be the channel of a river
or other water course and the adjacent land areas to a distance of
one-half the width of the floodplain, as measured from the normal
high water mark to the upland limit of the floodplain.
Relating to, formed by, or resembling a river (including
tributaries), stream, brook, etc.
See "area of special flood hazard."
The date the building permit was issued, provided the actual
start of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition,
placement, substantial improvement or other improvement was within
one hundred eighty 180 days of the permit date. The actual start means
either the first placement of permanent construction of a structure
on a site, such as the pouring of slab or footings, the installation
of piles, the construction of columns, or any work beyond the stage
of excavation; or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation.
Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as
clearing, grading and filling; nor does it include the installation
of streets and/or walkways; nor does it include excavation for basement,
footings, piers, or foundations or the erection of temporary forms,
nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory
buildings, such as garages or sheds, not occupied as dwelling units
or not part of the main structure. 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, or modification
of any construction element, whether or not that alteration affects
the external dimensions of the building.
For floodplain management purposes, a walled and roofed building.
A gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground is also
a structure.
Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the
cost of restoring the structure to its before-damage condition would
equal or exceed fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure
before the damage occurred.
Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement
of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty percent
50% of the market value of the structure before the start of construction
of the improvement. This term includes structures which have incurred
substantial damage, regardless of the actual repair work performed.
The term does not, however, include either:
Any project for improvement of a structure to
correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary, or
safety code specifications which have been identified by the local
code enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure
safe living conditions; or
Any alteration of an historic structure, provided
that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation
as an historic structure, and a variance is obtained from the community's
Zoning Board of Appeals.
A grant of relief by a community from the terms of a floodplain
management regulation.
The failure of a structure or development to comply with
a community's floodplain management regulations.
This chapter repeals and replaces any municipal
ordinance previously enacted to comply with the National Flood Insurance
Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-488, as amended).