Unified Development Ordinance - Currituck County Government

Chapter 7: Environmental ProtectionSECTION 7.4: FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTIONSubsection 7.4.1: Purpose and Intent7.4. FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION7.4.1. Purpose and IntentThe purpose and intent of the flood damage prevention standards is to promote public health,safety, and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditionswithin flood prone areas by provisions designed to:A. Restrict or prohibit uses that are dangerous to health, safety, and property due towater or erosion hazards or that result in damaging increases in erosion, flood heights,or velocities;B. Require that uses vulnerable to floods be protected against flood damage at the timeof initial construction;C. Control the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protectivebarriers, which are involved in the accommodation of floodwaters;D. Control filling, grading, dredging, and all other development that may increase erosionor flood damage; andE. Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers that will unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards to other lands.7.4.2. ApplicabilityThe standards in this section shall apply to all lands within the special flood hazard area, asdepicted in the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Currituck County and incorporated byreference into this Ordinance.7.4.3. Floodplain Development Permit RequiredA. Development subject to the standards in this section shall obtain a floodplaindevelopment permit (see Section 2.4.12) prior to the commencement of constructionor any land-disturbing activities.B. Development subject to these standards shall not be established, extended, converted,altered, or occupied in any way without full compliance with the requirements of thissection.7.4.4. Special Flood Hazard Area ZonesAll lands within the Currituck County special flood hazard area are located within one of fourdifferent special flood hazard area zones, as depicted on the county’s FIRM maps. Each floodzone is a geographic area in the county subject to a unique type and severity of flood. Eachflood zone has unique standards, elevation certificate requirements, or both. Applicants fordevelopment within the special flood hazard area should consult the FIRM to determine theapplicable flood zone where their land is located. The different flood zones are describedbelow.A. VE ZoneLands within a VE zone are areas generally adjacent to a body of water that mayexperience flooding as well as wave action. Lands in a VE zone are subject to thecoastal high hazard zone standards in addition to the general flood damage preventionstandards in Section 7.4.6, Standards.CURRITUCK COUNTY, NC UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE7.20