Locate buildings out of flood-prone areas

Rationale: Locating facilities out of flood-prone zones and managing for potential flood risks decreases the immediate risk of mortality, injury, and PTSD from flooding and mitigates the longer-term risk of degraded indoor air quality from water damage, which is linked to chronic respiratory conditions and contagious diseases.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Flood-Prone Areas (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:  

1. Locate the residential building outside of flood-prone areas*.

*Flood-prone areas are those that are likely to flood over the next 30 years (> 6% chance of 1 inch of water reaching the largest home or building on a property at least once during this time period).

*Flood-prone areas are those that are at risk of coastal flooding, heavy rains, and poor drainage.

Option 2 - Flood-Risk Mitigation (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit if located in a flood-prone area by demonstrating compliance with the below requirements:

1. Implement a minimum of two of the following qualifying flood-risk mitigation practices:

• elevate boilers so they are not located at or below ground level
• install a sewage water backstop
• improve lot grading so that stormwater runs away from the building by building up any sunken areas around the foundation or digging small depressions to properly channel water
• integrate stormwater management strategies into landscaping through rain gardens, vegetated swales, or pervious pavements
• install a rain barrel
• develop a maintenance plan for gutters, downspouts, and splash pads so that rainwater from the roof flows easily away from the building
• anchor outdoor fuel tanks
• elevate utilities and service equipment so that they are a minimum of 1 foot above the flood elevation.

Compliance Documentation

Types of compliance documentation required:

• Annotated design drawings
• Annotated maps
• Annotated plans