17.76.190 Nonresidential construction.
A. New construction and substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial or other nonresidential structure shall either have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to at least one foot above the base flood elevation, or, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, shall:
1. Have the long axis of the foundation aligned with the flood flow;
2. Be floodproofed so that below one foot above the base flood level the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water;
3. Have structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy; and
4. Be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting provisions of this subsection based on their development and/or review of the structural design, specifications, and plans. Such certifications shall be provided to the official as set forth in BMC 17.76.100(C)(2).
5. Nonresidential structures that are elevated, not floodproofed, must meet the same standards for space below the lowest floor as described in BMC 17.76.180(B).
B. Applicants floodproofing nonresidential buildings shall be notified that flood insurance premiums will be based on rates that are one foot below the floodproofed level (e.g., a building floodproofed to one foot above the base flood level will be rated as at the base flood level). [Ord. 2003-08-055 § 5; Ord. 9969 § 4, 1989; Ord. 9740 § 4, 1987; Ord. 9136 § 4(B)(2), 1982].