§ 50-223. Purpose.

The purposes of this article 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)

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;

(2)

Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities that serve such uses, be protected against flood damage throughout their intended life span;

(3)

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

(4)

Protect individuals from unlimited utilization of lands that are unsuited for intended purposes because of flood hazards;

(5)

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

(6)

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

(7)

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;

(8)

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;

(9)

Protect human life, health, and minimize damage to public and private property, facilities and utilities;

(10)

Maintain water quality and protect wetland property values;

(11)

Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of flood hazard areas;

(12)

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

(13)

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.

( Ord. No. 2012-04 , § 3, 10-16-2012)