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Building Responsibly in a LEARN ABOUT
BUILDING
Special Flood Hazard Area R E S P O N S I B LY
What are special building requirements in the SFHA?
Building within the SFHA has additional requirements in
addition to the traditional building code requirements:
■ Freeboard: Newport News requires 2 feet of freeboard
above the Base Flood Elevation in the Special Flood
Hazard Area. Freeboard provides a factor of safety
in determining the level at which a structure’s
lowest floor must be elevated or floodproofed. Base
Flood Elevation refers to the elevation of surface
water resulting from a flood that has a 1% chance of
equaling or exceeding that level in any given year.
■ Substantial Improvements also require a permit. A
“substantial improvement” means any reconstruction, Cost of Improvements/Repairs> 50%
rehabilitation, repair, addition or other improvement to of the value
a structure, the total cost of which equals or exceeds of the
50 percent of the market value of the structure structure
before the start of construction of the improvement. NEEDS A
Substantially Improved buildings must be brought SPECIAL
PERMIT
into compliance with current floodplain management
standards. Rebuilding to current standards decreases
risks to life and property and is required to prevent future disaster impacts.
When is a building permit required?
■ All construction within the SFHA requires a Building
Permit and other requirements may apply depending
on location and type of development. Accessory
structures such as sheds and fences could potentially
block floodwaters and cause localized flooding.
Construction of all accessory structures within the
floodplain, no matter the size, requires a permit.
Contact the Codes Compliance department at
permits@nnva.gov or 757-933-2311.
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