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Portsmouth, Virginia, Cade of Ordinances: PART It -CODE -Chapter 14.1 FLOOD PROTECTION (2) The flood carrying capacity within an altered or relocated portion of any watercourse shall be maintained. (d) Elevation and construction standards. in all identified flood hazard areas where base flood elevations have been provided in the FIS or generated by a certified professional in accordance with section 14.1-11(b}(3) of this code the following provisions shall apply: (1} Residential construction. New cans#ruction or substantial improvement of any residential structure {including manufactured homes} in Zones Al-3d, AE, AH and A with detailed base flood elevations shall have the lowest floor including HVAC, duct work, and basement, elevated to at least the design flood elevation which is the BFE plus 3.0 feet. No floodproofing below the design flood elevation{QFE) of residential construction is allowed. (2} Non-Residential construction. New construction or substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial, or non-residential building (or manufactured home) shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated at least 3 feet above the base flood level. Buildings located in all Al-3b, AE, and AH zones may be floodproofed in lieu of being elevated provided that all areas of the building components below the elevation corresponding to the BFE plus 3 feet are water tight with walls substantially impermeable to-the passage of water, and use structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic Ivads and the effect of buoyancy. A registered professional engineer or architect shat( certify that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. Such certification, including the specific elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which such structures are floodproofed, shall be maintained by the Floodplain Administrator. (3} Space below the lowest floor. In zones A, AE, AH, AO, and Al-A30, fully enclosed areas, of new construction or substantially improved structures, which are below the regulatory flood protection elevation shall: a. no# be designed or used for human habitation, but shall only be used for parking of vehicles, building access, or limited storage of maintenance equipment used in connection with the premises. Access to the enclosed area shall be the minimum necessary to allow for parking of vehicles (garage door) or limited storage of maintenance equipment (standard exterior door), or entry to the living area (stairway or elevator). b. be constructed entirely of flood resistant materials below the design flood elevation which is the BFE plus 3 feet; include measures to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood farces on walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters. To meet this requirement, the openings must either be certified by a professional engineer or architect or meet the following minimum design criteria: 17