E – 1624 Investigating Coastal Regulatory Requirements

States and communities throughout the U.S. enforce regulatory requirements that determine where and how buildings may be sited, designed and constructed. These requirements include those associated with regulatory programs established by Federal and State statutes and locally adopted floodplain management ordinances, building codes, subdivision regulations, and other land use ordinances and laws.

Applicable regulatory programs include the NFIP, which is intended to reduce the loss of life and damage caused by natural hazards, as well as programs established to protect wetlands and other wildlife habitat and minimize degradation of the environment. In addition, states and communities enforce requirements aimed specifically at the regulation of construction along the shorelines of oceans, bays and lakes.

Because federal, state and local regulatory requirements can have a significant effect on the siting, design, construction and cost of buildings, it’s important for designers, property owners and builders engaged in coastal residential construction projects to understand all relevant regulations.

This online course curated by Don Parnell, PE will walk through how to conduct a thorough investigation to identify all regulations that may affect coastal properties and projects.

Learning Objectives

• Land Use Regulations
• Coastal Barrier Resource Areas and Other Protected Areas
• Coastal Zone Management Regulations
• National Flood Insurance Program
• History of the National Flood Insurance Act (NFIP)
• FEMA Flood Hazard Studies
• Minimum Regulatory Requirements
• Minimum Requirements in All Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA)
• Additional Minimum Requirements for Buildings in Zone A
• Building Elevation in Zones AE, A1–A30, AO, and A
• Enclosures Below the Lowest Floor in Zones AE, A1–A30, AO, and A
• Additional Minimum Requirements for Buildings in Zone V
• Regulatory Requirements for Siting, Building Elev., Foundations, Use of Fill, Space below the BFE
• Community Rating System
• Building Codes and Standards
• Best Practices for Exceeding Minimum NFIP Regulatory Requirements
• Summary of NFIP Regulatory Requirements and Recommendations