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Portsmouth, Virginia, Code of Ordinances: PART II -CODE -Chapter 14.1 FLOOD PROTECTION Notwiths#anding the foregoing, historic structures undergoing work that would constitute a substantial improvement as defined above, shall comply with all ordinance requirements that do not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure. Documentation that a specific ordinance requirement will cause removal of the structure from the National Register of Historic Places or the State Inventory of Historic Places shall be obtained from the Secretary of the Interior or the State Historic Preservation Qfflcer. Any exemption from ordinance requirements will be the minimum necessary to preserve the historic character and design of the structure, Violation means the failure of a structure. or other development to be fully compliant with the provisions of this ordinance. A structure or other development without the elevation certificate, other certifications, or other evidence of compliance required in this ordinance is presumed to be in violation until such time as that documentation is provided. VA USBC means the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, as amended and supplemented from time to time. Water Surface Elevation means the height, in relation to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88} (pr other datum, where specified} of floods of various magnitude and frequencies in the floodplains of coastal or riverine areas. Watercourse means any natural or artificial lake, river, creek, stream, ditch, channel, waterway, gully ravine, swale, or wash in which water flaws, either continuously, periodically, or intermittently, and which has a definite channel, bed, or banks. Watercourse includes specifically designated areas in which substantial flood damage may occur. Sec. 14.1-6. -Description of district. {a} Description of Special Flood Hazard Areas. The various special flood hazard districts shall include the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs}. The basis far the delineation of these districts shat! be the flood insurance study (FIS}, and flood insurance rate map (FIRM) prepared for the City of Portsmouth by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Insurance Administration, dated August 3, 2fl15, and any subsequent revisions or amendments thereto. The City of Portsmouth may identify and regulate local flood hazard or ponding areas that are not delineated on the FIRM. These areas may be delineated on a "Local Flood Hazard Map" using best available topographic data and locally derived information such as flood of record, historic high water marks or approximate study methodologies. The boundaries of the SFHA Districts are established as shown on the FIRM, which is declared to be a part of this ordinance and which shall be kept on file at the City of Portsmouth Department of Neighborhood Advancement, and which may include the following districts: s