Information For Obtaining A Permit In A Floodway
When property is located in or close to a flood hazard area, or in multiple flood zones, the following will be required:
- Original Construction Drawing Elevation Certificate
- Original Survey from a Mississippi registered engineer or land surveyor
(This survey needs to show the property layout with all zones delineated as they will fall on the property, placement of structure on the property, show elevation shots on the four (4) corners of the proposed structure if it is within the flood zone boundaries)
If the structure is in a velocity zone, a Mississippi registered engineer must design, stamp, and sign the construction plans and footing and foundation plan.
Note: as of October 2000, the zoning ordinance adopted by Harrison County requires that the lowest floor be an additional two (2) feet higher than FEMA's required base flood elevation.
If the structure is a new construction being built, a certification of the lowest floor must be provided within ten (10) days after the lowest floor is established.
(Under construction elevation certificate)
When the structure is completed, a finished construction elevation certificate will need to be furnished before a final inspection can be made.
In these zones, you are allowed 299 sq. ft. of storage area below base flood elevation with a breakaway wall as required by FEMA. No electrical, plumbing, or mechanical is allowed below base flood elevation.
Allowable Items Below Elevated Structures - Velocity Zones - Coastal High Hazard Areas
The following is a list of items that may or may not be allowed below the base flood elevation (BFE) level of elevated structures in a Coastal High Hazard Area. An X has been placed in the appropriate column.
| Flood Zone VE, V-1 through V-30 | Yes | No |
| Residential garage for vehicle storage. (see 3 below) | X | |
| Limited storage areas and unfinished building access, residential (see 3 below) | X | |
| Breakaway walls, lattice or insect screening for enclosing 1 and 2 above (see # below) |
X | |
Solid or flood proof walls |
X | |
| Electrical meters | X | |
| Electrical outlets * | X | |
| Appliances (e.g. washers, dryers, water heaters, refrigerators, freezers, etc.) | X | |
| Heating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, equipment and all components | X | |
| Bathrooms | X | |
| Finished entrance foyer | X | |
| An enclosure for uses other than parking, building access, or limited storage of maintenance items used in conjunction with the property | X | |
| * one outlet and switch with Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) # See FEMA Technical Bulletin for detailed information |
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National Flood Insurance Program VE, V1-99 Zones - Coastal High Hazard Areas
Minimize Flood Damage: Design and construct buildings to minimize future flood damages to life and property
- Elevate Building: The bottom surface of the lowest horizontal structural member (e.g. floor beam) of the lowest floor of all primary buildings must be elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), utilizing fill, piling, piers, or stem walls. Basements are not allowed. We recommend elevating at least one (1) foot above BFE.
- Mechanical and Electrical Equipment: All mechanical and electrical equipment servicing the building must be elevated to or above BFE, or must be floodproofed to prevent the entry of water into the system. This includes bathrooms, laundry facilities, electrical panels, AC units, furnaces, freezers.
- Foundation Systems: Foundation systems must be designed to adequately withstand the simultaneous forces of both water and wind associated with a Base Flood, acting on all building components, including buoyancy, flotation, collapse and lateral movement. Buildings must be adequately anchored to such foundation systems. Each building/foundation system must be certified by a registered professional architect or engineer that it conforms to the minimum NFIP standards (use V-Zone certificate).
- Enclosures Below Flood Level: Enclosed areas below an elevated habitable floor are subject to numerous restrictions:
- Uses Allowed: Only parking, storage, and building access is allowed. A bathroom, laundry, in-law suite, recreation room, etc. is not permissible.
- Breakaway Walls: Prohibit solid walls below BFE to keep the area "free of obstruction", unless they are designed to be "breakaway" when subjected to water loads of only 10 to 20 psi, or are designed and certified by a registered professional architect or engineer to breakaway during a Base Flood, without damaging the superstructure. We recommend use of only lattice or insect screening to provide enclosure.
- Uses Allowed: Only parking, storage, and building access is allowed. A bathroom, laundry, in-law suite, recreation room, etc. is not permissible.
