Build Responsibly
Any development done in a floodplain (fill dirt, new construction, remodeling, etc.) is required to have a permit!
If construction or development is happening that you believe is unpermitted, feel free to call our Building Department office or submit a notice to our Code Enforcement office.
Only use licensed and insured contractors!
If you are located within a special flood hazard area and are planning on building new construction or doing substantial improvements to an existing home, then you must meet current Florida Building Code standards and comply with your local floodplain ordinance. Be sure to get a permit!
New Construction
New residential construction that is located within a SFHA is required to be elevated so the structure is above FEMA’s designated base flood elevation (BFE). The Florida Building Code further requires that the building be elevated an additional 1 foot above the BFE (R322.2.1). To read more about the Florida Building Codes requirements for residential flood-resistant construction check out chapter 3 of the Residential Building Code.
What is substantial damage or improvement(SD/SI)?
Buildings located within a SFHA that are substantially damaged or improved are required to meet the same standards as new construction.
In Edgewater’s Land Development Code, substantial damage is defined as “damage of any origin sustained by a building or structure whereby the cost of restoring the building or structure to its before-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the building or structure before the damage occurred.”
Substantial improvement is defined as “any repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a building or structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the building or structure before the improvement or repair is started. If the structure has incurred "substantial damage," any repairs are considered substantial improvement regardless of the actual repair work performed.”
Read more on Edgewater’s flood plain ordinance in section 4 of our Land Development Code.
