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James Burgess for Ashburn City Council

Sec. 46-73Duties and responsibilities of the administrator

Last changed 2009
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.

Duties of the enforcement and permits shall include, but shall not be limited to:

(1) Review proposed development to assure that the permit requirements of this article have been satisfied.

(2) Review proposed development to assure that all necessary permits have been received from governmental agencies from which approval is required by federal or state law, including section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 1334. Require that copies of such permits be provided and maintained on file.

(3) Review all permit applications to determine whether proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding.

(4) When base flood elevation data or floodway data have not been provided in accordance with section 46-52, then the building department shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other sources in order to administer the provisions of division 4.

(5) Review and record the actual elevation in relation to mean sea level (or highest adjacent grade) of the lowest floor, including basement, of all new or substantially improved structures in accordance with subsection 46-72(2).

(6) Review and record the actual elevation, in relation to mean sea level to which any new or substantially improved structures have been floodproofed, in accordance with subsection 46-72(2).

(7) When floodproofing is utilized for a structure, the building department shall obtain certification of design criteria from a registered professional engineer or architect in accordance with subsections 46-72(1)c. and 46-82(2), or 46-84(2).

(8) Make substantial damage determinations following a flood event or any other event that causes damage to structures in flood hazard areas.

(9) Notify adjacent communities and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

(10) For any altered or relocated watercourse, submit engineering data/analysis within six months to the FEMA to ensure accuracy of community flood maps through the letter of map revision process. Assure flood carrying capacity of any altered or relocated watercourse is maintained.

(11) Where interpretation is needed as to the exact location of boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions) the building department shall make the necessary interpretation. Any person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in this article.

(12) All records pertaining to the provisions of this article shall be maintained in the office of the building department and shall be open for public inspection.

History: (Ord. No. 09-04, art. 3, § C, 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_S46-73DUREAD

Official version: https://library.municode.com/GA/Ashburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH46FL_ARTIIFLDAPR_DIV3AD_S46-73DUREAD

Paid for by James Burgess

Paid for by James Burgess