14.34.100 Duties and responsibilities of the building official

14.34.100 Duties and responsibilities of the building official.

Duties of the building official shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Review all development permits to determine that the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied;

2. Review all development permits to determine that all necessary permits have been obtained from those federal, state or local governmental agencies from which prior approval is required;

3. Review all development permits to determine if the proposed development is located in the area of special flood hazard or floodway. If located in the area of special flood hazard or floodway, assure that permits are denied or meet exemption requirements according to the provisions of this chapter. If located in a floodway, assure that the encroachment provisions of LMC 14.34.140 are met;

4. The site is reasonably safe from flooding;

5. Notify FEMA when annexations occur in the special flood hazard area.

B. Use of Other Base Flood Data. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with LMC 14.34.030, the building official shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other source, in order to administer LMC 14.34.130 and 14.34.140.

1. Where base flood elevation data is provided through the flood insurance study, FIRM or is required under subsection B of this section, obtain and record the actual (as-built) elevation in relation to mean sea level of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new and substantially improved structures and whether or not the structure has a basement. The information shall be recorded on a current elevation certificate with Section B completed by the local official.

2. For all new or substantially improved floodproofed nonresidential structures where base flood elevation data is provided through the FIRM, flood insurance study, or as required in subsection B of this section:

a. Verify and record the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which the structure was floodproofed.

b. Maintain the floodproofing certification required in LMC 14.34.130(B).

3. Maintain for public inspection all records pertaining to the provisions of this chapter.

4. Certification required by LMC 14.34.140(A) (floodway encroachments).

5. Records of all variance actions, including justification for their issuance.

6. Improvement and damage calculations.

7. Documentation of the elevation of the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member in V or VE zones.

1. Except in cases where the city, state, or federal government undertakes public works projects for the benefit of the general public, alteration or relocation of any watercourses is prohibited;

2. In cases where a city, state, or federal government entity undertakes such a project all appropriate city, state, and federal permits and approvals shall be required. All identified impacts shall be fully mitigated;

3. In cases of city, state, or federal government projects the building official shall notify adjacent communities and the Department of Ecology prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration;

4. In the case of a city, state, or federal government project the building official shall require that maintenance is provided within the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse so that the flood carrying capacity is not diminished and all habitat functions maintained.

E. Interpretation of FIRM Boundaries. Make interpretations where needed, as to exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazards (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions). The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation in accordance with Chapter 1D of the City of Lacey Development Guidelines and Public Works Standards.

F. Review of Building Permits. Where elevation data is not available, either through the FIS, FIRM, or from another authoritative source (as required by LMC 14.34.100(B)), applications for floodplain development shall be reviewed to assure that proposed construction will be reasonably safe from flooding. The test of reasonableness is a local judgment and includes use of historical data, high water marks, photographs of past flooding, etc., where available.

(Failure to elevate habitable buildings at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade in these zones may result in higher insurance rates.)

G. Changes to Special Flood Hazard Area. If a project will alter the base flood elevation or boundaries of the special flood hazard area, then the project proponent shall provide the community with engineering documentation and analysis regarding the proposed change. If the change to the base flood elevation or boundaries of the special flood hazard area would normally require a letter of map change, then the project approval shall be conditioned accordingly. (Ord. 1654 §4, 2023; Ord. 1505 §36, 2017; Ord. 1398 §8, 2012; Ord. 1375 §23, 2011; Ord. 1265 §3, 2006; Ord. 1197 §3, 2002; Ord. 861 §2 (part), 1989).