§ 8-3-7. Coastal high hazard areas (V zones).

Located within areas of special flood hazard established in section 8-1-8 are areas designated as coastal high hazard areas, namely, Coastal AE zones, zones VI—V30, VE and/or V. These areas have special flood hazards associated with high velocity waters from surges and wave wash; therefore, in addition to meeting all provisions in this chapter, the following provisions shall also apply:

(1)

All buildings or structures shall be located landward of the reach of mean high tide.

(2)

All new construction and substantial improvements in Coastal AE zones, zones V1—V30 and VE (V if base flood elevation is available) shall be elevated on pilings and columns so that:

a.

The bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor (excluding the pilings or columns) is elevated one foot or more above the base flood elevation.

b.

The pile or column foundation and structure attached thereto is anchored to resist flotation, collapse and lateral movement due to the effects of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components. Wind and water loading values shall each have a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (100-year mean recurrence interval).

(3)

A Mississippi registered professional engineer or architect shall develop or review the structural design, specifications and plans for the construction, and shall certify that the design and methods of construction to be used are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the provisions of subsections (2)a. and b.

(4)

Obtain and deliver to the floodplain administrator the elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of the bottom of the lowest structural member of the lowest floor (excluding pilings and columns) of all new and substantially improved structures in Coastal AE zones, zones V1—V30 and VE. The floodplain administrator shall maintain a record of all such information.

(5)

Provide that all new construction and substantial improvements have the space below the lowest floor either free of obstruction or constructed with non-supporting breakaway walls, open wood lattice-work, or insect screening intended to collapse under wind and water loads without causing collapse, displacement, or other structural damage to the elevated portion of the building or supporting foundation system. For the purpose of this section, a breakaway wall shall have a design safe loading resistance of not less than ten and no more than 20 pounds per square foot. Breakaway wall enclosures are limited to 299 square feet or less. Use of breakaway walls which exceed a design safe loading resistance of 20 pounds per square foot (either by design or when so required by local codes) may be permitted only if a Mississippi registered professional engineer or architect certifies that the designs proposed meet the following conditions:

a.

Breakaway wall collapse shall result from water load less than that which would occur during the base flood; and

b.

The elevated portion of the building and supporting foundation system shall not be subject to collapse, displacement, or other structural damage due to the effects of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components (structural and nonstructural). Maximum wind and water loading values to be used in this determination shall each have a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.

(6)

If breakaway walls are utilized, such enclosed space shall be useable solely for parking of vehicles, building access, or storage. Such space shall not be used for human habitation.

(7)

There shall be no fill used as structural support. Under the building, no fill may be used except for minor landscaping and minor site grading for drainage purposes. Fill may be used on coastal building sites for landscaping and site grading as long as the fill does not interfere with the free passage of floodwaters and debris underneath the building or cause changes in flow direction during coastal storms such that will cause additional damage to buildings on the site or to any adjacent buildings. The floodplain administrator shall approve design plans for landscaping or aesthetic fill only after the applicant has provided an analysis by an engineer, architect or soil scientist which demonstrate the following factors have been fully considered:

a.

Particle composition of fill material does not have a tendency for excessive natural compaction;

b.

Volume and distribution of fill will not cause wave deflection to adjacent properties; and

c.

Slope of fill will not cause wave run-up or ramping.

(8)

An example of unacceptable placement of fill would be construction of a small berm or retaining wall that is backfilled and used for landscaping purposes when it has been determined that ramping or deflection of floodwaters will adversely affect adjacent buildings and thereby create additional flood damage potential.

(9)

There shall be no alteration of sand dunes or mangrove stands which would increase potential flood damage.

(10)

Latticework or decorative screening shall be allowed below the base flood elevation provided it is not part of the structural support of the building and is designed so as to break away, under abnormally high tides or wave action, without damage to the structural integrity of the building on which it is to be used, and provided material shall consist of wood or mesh screening only. Prior to construction, plans for any structure that will have latticework or decorative screening must be submitted to the building official for approval.

(11)

The placement of manufactured homes is prohibited except in a manufactured home park or subdivision. All manufactured homes, replacement or otherwise, to be placed or substantially improved within Coastal AE zones, zones VI—V30, V, and VE on the community's FIRM on sites:

a.

In a new manufactured home park or subdivision,

b.

In an expansion to an existing manufactured home park or subdivision, or

c.

In an existing manufactured home park or subdivision on which a manufactured home has incurred "substantial damage" as the result of a flood, meet the standards of subsections (1) through (10) and that manufactured homes placed or substantially improved on other sites in an existing manufactured home park or subdivision within Coastal AE zones, zones VI—V30, V, and VE on the FIRM meet the requirements of subsections (1) through (10) and subsection 8-3-2(7).

(12)

Recreational vehicles placed on sites within Coastal AE zones, zones VI—V30, V, and VE on the community's FIRM either:

a.

Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days,

b.

Be fully licensed and ready for highway use, on its wheels or jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick disconnect type utilities and security devices, and has no permanently attached additions; or

c.

Meet the requirements of subsections (1) through (10), section 8-2-2, and subsection 8-3-2(7).

(Ord. No. 2043, § 2, 5-23-06; Ord. No. 2069, § 1, 2-27-07; Ord. No. 2124, § 1, 2-17-09; Ord. No. 2193, § 4, 12-13-11; Ord. No. 2201, § 2, 4-17-12; Ord. No. 2351 , § 1, 12-21-17)