Sec. 46-72Permit procedures
Needs a look
Naming an individual in law goes stale when staff change, and residents may not know who actually handles flood permits today. See the fix
Plain English: what this chapter covers
This chapter is Ashburn's flood damage prevention ordinance, the set of rules that keeps the city in the National Flood Insurance Program. It applies to FEMA-mapped flood hazard areas: you need a development permit before building or filling there, new homes have to be raised above expected flood levels, and floodways have to stay clear. It doesn't cover everyday ditch or yard flooding outside the mapped zones.
Application for a development permit shall be made to the building department on forms furnished by the community prior to any development activities, and may include, but not be limited to the following: Plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the elevations of the area in question and the nature, location, dimensions, of existing or proposed structures, earthen fill placement, storage of materials or equipment, and drainage facilities.
Specifically, the following information is required:
(1) Application stage.
a. Elevation in relation to mean sea level (or highest adjacent grade) of the lowest floor, including basement, of all proposed structures;
b. Elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed;
c. Design certification from a registered professional engineer or architect that any proposed nonresidential floodproofed structure will meet the floodproofing criteria of subsection 46-82(2);
d. Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of a proposed development; and
(2) Construction stage. For all new construction and substantial improvements, the permit holder shall provide to the administrator an as-built certification of the regulatory floor elevation or floodproofing level immediately after the lowest floor or floodproofing is completed. Any lowest floor certification made relative to mean sea level shall be prepared by or under the direct supervision of a registered land surveyor or professional engineer and certified by same. When floodproofing is utilized for nonresidential structures, said certification shall be prepared by or under the direct supervision of a professional engineer or architect and certified by same.
Any work undertaken prior to submission of these certifications shall be at the permit holder's risk.
The building department (Mike Mastrario) shall review the above-referenced certification data submitted. Deficiencies detected by such review shall be corrected by the permit holder immediately and prior to further progressive work being allowed to proceed. Failure to submit certification or failure to make said corrections required hereby, shall be cause to issue a stop work order for the project.
History: (Ord. No. 09-04, art. 3, § B, 8-6-2009)
This is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. The official code is on Municode and at City Hall. Our copy is from April 30, 2026.
Online: https://jamesburgessleads.com/city-code/PTIICOOR_CH46FL_ARTIIFLDAPR_DIV3AD_S46-72PEPR
Official version: https://library.municode.com/GA/Ashburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH46FL_ARTIIFLDAPR_DIV3AD_S46-72PEPR
Paid for by James Burgess