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LEARN ABOUT
How can design standards THE IMPORTANCE OF
support resilience? RESILIENCE
PLANNING
Newport News is evaluating what design requirements should be incorporated into City policies,
ordinances, and design guidelines to be prepared for future conditions and help improve
community resilience. The City will expand on measures already in place to reduce flood risk
through stormwater system improvements, enhance floodplain sustainability, and reduce
future flooding issues and storm recovery for properties in the City. By adopting higher design
standards, we can build a safer, more resilient buildings now that are that are better equipped to
handle future climate challenges, reduce future risks, save money on repairs, and save lives.
DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS
New development or redevelopment must meet specific requirements that can be adjusted to
account for future conditions:
■ Design standards can be adjusted to ensure infrastructure designs account prepare for
climate change by making infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather events and other
climate-related impacts.
■ Floodplain regulations can be used to implement additional regulations as part of a broader
effort to enhance climate resilience and ensure sustainable development in flood-prone areas,
reducing the risk of flooding, protecting lives and property, and making communities safer for
residents.
■ Building codes can support community resilience by increasing safety and reducing damage
during disasters. The City currently enforces the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building
Code, which includes Virginia-specific amendments to the 2021 International Building Code
and International Residential Code.
■ Freeboard is an additional height above the FEMA
determined base flood elevation (BFE) which is the
water surface elevation of the 1% annual chance
flood event (sometimes referred to as the 100-year
storm.) Newport News currently requires two (2)
feet of freeboard which means a building’s lowest
floor must two feet above the BFE for residential
or flood-proofed up to two feet above BFE for
commercial properties. The two feet of freeboard
provides a factor of safety against current and
future flooding.
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