Bureau of Engineering Special Order

Transcription

1 Bureau of Engineering Special Order March 26, 1993 So Number Page 1 of 1 I To All: Deputy City Engineers DivisionIDistrict Engineers Division Heads Subject: Modification of Procedures on Issuing Elevation and Floodproofing Certificates Supersedes Special Order Nos. SO and S A building permit applicant is required to obtain either an Elevation Certificate (EC) or Floodproofing Certificate (FC), as developed by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), if a new structure or if an existing structure that will undergo substantial improvements is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area. For residential structures, an EC is required. For nonresidential structures (such as commercial or industrial), either an EC or FC may be obtained. An FC is applicable to nonresidential structures w. Through Special Order No. SO , the practice in the Bureau of Engineering was to approve and issue an EC prior to the start of construction. The Engineering district office public counter personnel would check the plans and sign off the Building Permit by noting on the submitted permit the Flood Zone and the appropriate height of the minimum "Finished Floor Elevation" from the top of the current or proposed curb. Effective immediately, public counter personnel will follow the attached "Procedure for Signing Off a Building Permit for Structures Located Within a Special Flood Hazard Area." Compliance with this new procedure will ensure that all Elevation and Floodproofing Certificates are based on the "as-built" elevation instead of the proposed construction elevation. This new procedure is in accordancewith the method required by FEMA. Copies of the other attachments, "Guidelines for Obtaining a Building Permit Within a Special Flood Hazard Areanand "Requirements For Obtaining Flood Clearance", shall be made available at all permit counters for the applicant's use and reference. ( PLR LLL ) Attachments

2 PROCEDURE FOR SIGNING OFF A BUILDING PERMIT FOR A STRUCTURE LOCATED WITHIN A SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA step 1) Step 2) Step 3) When an applicant presents a building permit to the counter for clearance by the Bureau of Engineering, determine whether the structure is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as delineated on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) published by the Federal Emergency Management - Agency (FEMA). If the structure is located within Flood Zones "B", "C", or "X", sign off building permit application by writing "Non-Flood Related" in the 'Flood Clearance' Box. If the structure is located within a SFHA, inform the applicant that helshe will need to provide your office with the following: a) Appropriate fee as established by L.A.M.C. Section for the issuance of the FEMA Elevation Certificate or the FEMA Floodproofing Certificate. b) A set of plans that have survey elevations based on the NGVD '29 which have been prepared by a person licensed to do land surveying. The survey elevation plan shall show the following. i) Base Flood Elevation as shown on the FIRM. ii) iii) iv) Elevation of the absolute lowest finished floor of the structure including any basement, and in the case of flood-proofing, elevation of the top of the flood-proofing. Elevations of the lowest finished floor at the comers of the structure. Elevations at the grade adjacent to the comers of the structure prior to and after construction. v) Elevations at the corners of the property and along the adjacent street(s) tops of curb. vi) Elevation datum referenced to the elevations as shown on the plans submitted for plan checking to B & S. Step 4) Once the applicant has submitted the required items, review the plans. If the plans are satisfactory, stamp, sign and date the plans. Sign off the building permit application by writing in the 'Flood Clearance' Box which certificate is required,

3 the Flood Zone, and the elevation of the "lowest finished floor" or "floodproofing". Use one of the following two methods: a) Elevation Certificate, Zone -, Flnished Floor Elevation = ft. b) Floodproofmg Certificate, Zone-, Flood-proofing Height Above Grade = ft. Note: Plan sh$l be considered satisfactory if the lowest fhshed floor elevation or flood-proofing elevation is equal to or greater than the Base Flood Elevationon the FIRM plus a freeboard of one foot. Base Flood Elevation is established from the highest adjacent grade to the structure which normally is the top of curb for developed areas. SteP 5) Step 6) step 7) Give applicant either the Elevation Certification (EC) or Floodproofing Certificate (FC). Explain to the applicant how to complete the certificate. The EC is to be filled out and certified by a person licensed to do land surveying stating that the elevations are based on actual construction and conforms to the approved plans. The FC is to be filled out and certified by either a Professional Engineer or Architect stating that the height of flood-proofing is based on actual construction and conforms to the approved plans. Instruct the applicant that a copy of the certificate is to be submitted to the B & S inspector as soon as possible after the Finished Floor or Flood-proofing Methods are completed. After inspection, B & S will send a copy of the appropriate certificate to the Stormwater Management Division, who in turn will send a copy to the district office. When signing off the Certificate of Occupancy, make sure that a copy of either the Elevation or Floodproofing Certificate has been received by your office.

4 Guidelines For Obtaining a build in^ Permit within a Special Flood Hazard Area Step 1) Step 2) Applicant completes either Form Number 1 Building Permit application (New Construction) or Form Number 3 Building Permit application (additions or alteration to an existing structure) and submits to the Department of Building and Safety (B & S). N s For Form Number 3 Building Pernu? appticohohon, B & S de~emites i/ the structure is a substantial improvement. If the proposed work is determined not to be a substantial improvement, this procedure is no longer appticabk B & S checks the district map to determine if the property is located within a flood hazard zone. a) If no, B & S checks appropriate box on permit stating that the property is not located in a flood hazard zone. Structure is treated as non-flood related. b) If yes, but the structure is determined not to be a substantial improvement, B & S checks appropriate box on permit stating that the property is located within a flood hazard zone. B & S then states on permit that the structure is not a flood project. Structure is treated as non-flood related. c) If yes, B & S checks appropriate box on permit stating that the property is located within a flood hazard zone and applicant must get clearance from 'the appropriate District Office of the Department of Public WorksBureau of Engineering (BOE). Permit Processing Section (Cent. Dist.) City Hall, Room N. Spring Street L.A., CA (213) Harbor District 638 S. Beacon Street, 4th Floor San Pedro, CA (3 10) Vallev District Sylvan Street Van Nuys, CA (8 18) W. Los Angeles District 1828 Sawtelle Bl., 3rd Floor W. Los Angeles, CA (3 10) Step 3) BOE determines whether the structure is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area as delineated on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) published by the

5 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). a) If the structure is located within Flood Zones "B", "C" or "X", BOE signs off building permit application. Structure is treated as non-flood related and this procedure is no longer applicable. b) If the residential structure is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area, a FEMA Elevation Certificate (EC) will be required. c) If the non-residential structure which is not to be "flood-r roo fed" is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area, a FEMA Elevation Certificate (EC) will be required. d) If the non-residential structure which is to be "flood-oroofedn is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area, a FEMA Floodproofing Certificate (FC) will be required. Step 4) Applicant pays appropriate fees to BOE and submits a set of plans that have survey elevations based on the NGVD '29 which have been prepared by a person licensed to do land surveying. The survey elevation plan shall show the following: a) Base Flood Elevation as shown on the FIRM. b) Elevation of the absolute lowest finished floor of the structure and in the case of flood-proofing, elevation of the top of the floodproofing. c) Elevations of the 1owest.finished floor at the comers of structure. d) Elevations at the grade adjacent to the comers of the structure prior to and afier construction. e) Elevations at the comers of the property and along the adjacent street(s) tops of curb. f) Elevation datum referenced to the elevations as shown on the plans submitted for plan checking to B & S. The survey elevation plan will be included in the final set of the building plans. Step 5) Step 6) BOE stamps survey elevation plan, signs off building permit application, and gives applicant either the Elevation Certificate or Floodproofing Certificate to be filled out and returned as stated in Step 9. Applicant returns stamped survey elevation plan and signed building permit

6 application to B & S. Step 7) B & S reviews plans for conformance with current requirements for construction in a Special Flood Hazard Area. a) If the proposed work is in conformance with current requirements, B & S issues building permit. b) If the proposed work is not in conformance, applicant must revise and resubmit 'plans. Step 8) Step 9) Applicant proceeds with construction until the work is at the stage where the Finished Floor Elevation or Flood-proofing Methods are established. Applicant then requests B & S to inspect "as-builtn Finished Floor Elevation or Floodproofing Methods before proceeding with any further construction. B & S inspects "as-built" Finished Floor Elevation or Flood-proofing Methods for conformance with the approved plans. a) Applicant submits to B & S inspector a completed copy of the appropiate certificate. The Elevation Certificate is to be filled out and certified by a person licensed to do land surveying stating that the elevations are based on actual construction and conforms to the approved plans. The Floodproofing Certificate is to be filled out and certified by either a Professional Engineer or Architect stating the height of flood-proofing is based on actual construction and conforms to the approved plans. B & S then transmits a copy to BOE. Applicant keeps the original. b) If not in conformance, applicant must revise the construction of the Finished Floor Elevation or the Flood-proofing Methods to conform with the approved plans. Step 10) Step 11) Applicant completes construction and calls for final inspection. B & S performs final inspection, including verification that construction meets the Special Flood Hazard Area requirements of the approved plans. Note: The Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued until a copy ofthe appropriate certificate has been received by B dt S.

7 City of Los Angeles Building Permit Procedure for Structures Located in SFHA 3 Bulldin# and Safmty (US) 11 Improvmmmnt to structurm ll.1. Thm mnmulng procedurm I IsJIa If Improvmmmnt Is lnmd to br substantial. r Flow Cherl prepared: February r Conslrucllon procmmds I i The slruclurr Is trralmd as nonflood rrlmtrd and this procmdurm is no longmr.ppllcabl* A NO building pmrrll ) application I r Appl lcanl I ravlsmsffe or FU 1 Clmmmcm from Bureau of r Englnmmrln (B(K) Is rmqu!rrb. L,-,,,J NO bl Appl revlsms lcanl ) packmgm OM slgns off bui ldlng pmmll 4 2 B(K rrvlmws packmgm. 4 L (rmqulre ellher 1 I and requmsts I 84s for flnel 1 Inspmcllon 1 suklts pachwm I lobm I L,------J B4S pmrfornr flnal PROJECT COYPlETEt

8 REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING FLOOD CLEARANCE If your structure is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area, you will need to provide the Bureau of Engineering district office with the following: A check for $93 payable to the City of Los Angeles as established by L.A.M.C. Section for the issuance of the FEMA Elevation Certificate or the FEMA Floodproofing Certificate. A set of plans that have survey elevations based on the NGVD '29 which have been prepared by a person licensed to do land surveying. The survey elevation plan shall show the following. 1) Base Flood Elevation as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). 2) Elevation of the absolute lowest finished floor of the structure including any basement, and in the case of flood-proofing, elevation of the top of the floodproofing. 3) Elevations of the lowest finished floor at the comers of the structure. 4) Elevations at the grade adjacent to the comers of the structure prior to and after construction. 5) Elevations at the comers of the property and along the adjacent street(s) tops of curb. 6) Elevation datum referenced to the elevations as shown on the plans submitted for plan checking to Building and Safety (B & S). Note: Plan shall be considered satisfactory if the lowestfinishedfloor eb&n orjlood-proofing elevation is equal to or greater than the Base Flood Elevation on the FIRM plus a freeboard of one foot. Base Hood Elevation is established from the highest adjacent grade to the structure which normal& is the top of curb for developed areas. After the plan has been reviewed and improvements have been constructed, complete the appropiate certificate. The Elevation Certificate is to be filled out and certified by a person licensed to do land surveying stating that the elevations are based on actual construction. The Floodproofing Certificate is to be filled out and certified by either a Professional Engineer or Architect stating that the height of flood-proofing is based on actual construction. A copy of the certificate is to be submitted to the B & S inspector as soon as possible after the Finished Floor Elevation or Flood-proofing Methods are constructed.