<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="Part 3 – Floodway Regulations">
  <section prefix="§" num="3-23" heading="In general.">
    <text>In the Floodway, the following regulations and restrictions apply.</text>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §5(b)(intro)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §3-21</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-24" heading="New private principal structures prohibited.">
    <text>New construction of private principal structures, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, is prohibited.</text>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §5(b)(1)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §3-22</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 92-134</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-307</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-25" heading="All development requires offset.">
    <text>Public infrastructure and environmental projects taking place on public land that aim to improve drainage and water quality are permitted in the floodway if:</text>
    <para num="(1)">the development complies with all otherwise applicable requirements of this Division I;</para>
    <para num="(2)">the effect of that development on flood heights is fully offset by accompanying stream modification; and</para>
    <para num="(3)">the development is approved by all appropriate local authorities, the State Water &amp;amp; Science Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §5(b)(2)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §3-23</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 92-134</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-516</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 21-020</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-26" heading="Engineering report.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Report required.">Any proposal to offset the effect of development in the Floodway by construction of stream modifications must be documented by an engineering report, prepared by a licensed professional engineer, that fully evaluates the effects of the construction and is submitted with the application for a building permit.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Basis.">As the basis of analysis, the report must use the base flood and floodway data prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §5(b)(3)(1st and 2nd sens.)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §3-24</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-516</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-27" heading="Map revision.">
    <text>Any development in the floodway that proposes to increase the water surface elevation or change the delineation of the floodway requires a Conditional Letter of Map Revision and a Letter of Map Revision as described in &lt;cite data-path="|7|§3-21"&gt;§ 3-21 {“Letter of map change”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;.</text>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §5(b)(3)(2nd par.)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §3-26</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 92-134</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-516</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 21-020</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-28" heading="Alternative analysis.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Required for permit.">Before a permit may be issued for any allowed development in the Floodway, the applicant must prepare and submit to the Planning Department an alternative analysis in accordance with this section.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Scope of analysis.">The alternative analysis must demonstrate that:<para num="(1)">no reasonable alternative exists outside of the Floodway;</para>
      <para num="(2)">the encroachment in the Floodway is the minimum necessary;</para>
      <para num="(3)">the development will withstand a base flood without significant damage; and</para>
      <para num="(4)">on the basis of hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, prepared by a licensed professional engineer in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Maryland Department of the Environment, the development:<para num="(i)">will not result in any increase in the base-flood elevation; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">will neither increase downstream or upstream flooding or erosion nor significantly contribute to debris.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §5(b)(3)(3rd par.) and (3-a)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §3-27</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 92-134</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-516</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-29" heading="Changes to existing structures.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Substantial improvements.">
      <para num="(1)">An existing structure in the Floodway may be substantially improved only:<para num="(i)">by variance;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">if the structure can be brought into conformance with this Division I without increasing its existing footprint; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">if all residential uses of the structure are provided egress outside of the base flood.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">Substantial improvement of a nonconforming structure, regardless of location, may only be undertaken in compliance with this Division I and any other applicable law.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Substantial damage or proposed replacement.">
      <para num="(1)">In the event of substantial damage or proposed replacement, the applicant must submit an alternative analysis to determine if the structure can be relocated to a less hazardous site.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Where replacement structures cannot be relocated, they must be limited to the footprint of the previous structure.</para>
      <para num="(3)">Any replacement structure must meet all applicable requirements of this Division I.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Elevation or floodproofing.">The modification, alteration, repair, reconstruction, or improvement of any nonconforming structure amounting to less than a substantial improvement must be elevated or floodproofed to the greatest extent possible.</para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Nuisance to be eliminated.">Uses or their adjuncts that are or become nuisances may not be permitted to continue.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §5(b)(4)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §3-28</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 92-134</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
    <annotation type="Editor's Notes">This section, along with the rest of this Division I, was amended by Ordinance 14-208.  Initially, however, the specific changes to this section were inadvertently omitted from the section’s codification here.  The following text has since been corrected to incorporate all changes made by Ord.  14-208.</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-30" heading="Prohibited structures.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Manufactured homes or buildings.">The placement of any manufactured homes or buildings is prohibited.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Fences, enclosures, etc.">The following may not be placed or caused to be placed in the Floodway:<para num="(1)">fences, except 2-rail or single-cable fences; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">any enclosures or materials (including fill) that:<para num="(i)">might impede, retard, or change the direction of the flow of water;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">will catch or collect debris carried by water; or</para>
        <para num="(iii)">is placed where the natural flow of stream or floodwaters would carry enclosures or materials downstream to the damage or detriment of public or private property in or adjacent to the floodplain.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §5(b)(5), (6)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §3-29</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§§" num="3-31 to 3-32" reserved="true" />
</baltimore-city-law>
