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<baltimore-city-law heading="Subtitle 4 – Development Permits">
  <section prefix="§" num="4-1" heading="Permit required.">
    <text>A Building permit issued by the Building Official under the Baltimore City &lt;cite data-path="|building-codes|II"&gt;Building Code&lt;/cite&gt;:</text>
    <para num="(1)">is required for all development in the Floodplain District; and</para>
    <para num="(2)">may be granted only after necessary permits from the State Water &amp;amp; Science Administration and all other applicable Federal, State, and City agencies have been obtained and verified by the Planning Department.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §6(intro)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §4-1</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</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="4-2" heading="Applications.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="From and to whom submitted.">The application for the permit must be submitted by the owner or authorized agent of the owner to the Building Official.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Required information.">The application must contain, in addition to the information otherwise required by the Building Official for a building permit, the following information:<para num="(1)">the name and address of the applicant;</para>
      <para num="(2)">the name and address of the owner of land on which development is proposed;</para>
      <para num="(3)">the name and address of the contractor;</para>
      <para num="(4)">the site location;</para>
      <para num="(5)">a plan of the site showing the size and location of the proposed development, as well as any existing structures;</para>
      <para num="(6)">plans, drawn to scale, that show the location, dimensions, and NAVD elevation of the site in relation to:<para num="(i)">the stream channel or shoreline, as the case may be; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">the Floodplain District delineation;</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(7)">a summary description of the proposed work and estimated cost; and</para>
      <para num="(8)">copies of all necessary permits from the State Water &amp;amp; Science Administration and all other applicable Federal, State, and City agencies.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Conditional information.">
      <para num="(1)">Depending on the type of development or structure involved, the Floodplain Manager may require:<para num="(i)">that an elevation certificate for the proposed development be submitted with the application; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">that the following information be shown on plans submitted with the application:<para num="(A)">the size of each proposed structure and the position on the lot where it is to be constructed;</para>
          <para num="(B)">the elevations of the proposed final grading and lowest floor and the existing ground and base-flood elevation, as certified by a licensed land surveyor or professional engineer; and</para>
          <para num="(C)">the method of elevating the proposed structure, including details of proposed fills, pile structures, retaining walls, foundations, erosion protection measures, and the like.</para>
        </para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">These plans must be prepared by a licensed professional engineer or professional architect.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Appraisals for existing structures.">If substantial improvement to an existing structure is proposed, an appraisal must be submitted by a professional real estate appraiser of the fair market value of the existing structure, less land value.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §6(a)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §4-2</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-516</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-307</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 21-020</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="4-3" heading="Plans for subdivisions or new development.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Plan drawing required.">
      <para num="(1)">Every proposal for the subdivision of land or for new development must include a plan that shows the location of all existing and proposed public and private utilities, facilities, drainage structure, and road access.</para>
      <para num="(2)">If the base-flood elevation has been determined by the Flood Insurance Study or other reliable source, as provided in &lt;cite data-path="|7|§2-3"&gt;§ 2-3 {“Official map”} of this Division I&lt;/cite&gt;, that flood elevation must be delineated on the plan.</para>
      <para num="(3)">If the proposal involves more than 5 lots or more than 5 acres and the base-flood elevation has not been determined for the land area, the developer must determine the base-flood elevation and delineate that flood elevation on the plan.  If hydrologic and hydraulic engineering analyses are submitted, they must be certified in accordance with the requirements of the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Certification and review.">All plans must be certified by a licensed professional engineer or professional architect and reviewed by the Department of General Services to assure that:<para num="(1)">all proposals are consistent with the need to minimize flood damage;</para>
      <para num="(2)">all necessary permits have been received from the State Water &amp;amp; Science Administration and appropriate Federal agencies;</para>
      <para num="(3)">all public and private utilities and facilities (including sewer, water, telephone, electric, gas, etc.) are located, constructed, and floodproofed to minimize or eliminate flood damage;</para>
      <para num="(4)">adequate drainage is provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards;</para>
      <para num="(5)">during a base flood, at least 1 access point provides safe vehicular access to and egress from the subdivision or new development; and</para>
      <para num="(6)">adequate measures have been taken to minimize adverse environmental impacts of the proposed development.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §6(b)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §4-3</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</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="4-4" heading="Conformance to codes required.">
    <text>A permit may be granted only after it has been determined that the proposed work will be in conformance with the requirements of this and all other applicable laws.</text>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §6(c)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §4-4</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="4-5" heading="Alteration of watercourse.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Notices required.">
      <para num="(1)">When the proposed development includes the relocation or alteration of a watercourse, evidence must be presented as part of the permit application that all adjacent communities and the State Water &amp;amp; Science Administration have been notified by certified mail and have approved of the proposed alteration or relocation.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Copies of these notifications must then be forwarded to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Insurance Administration.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Assurances of flood-carrying capacity.">In addition, the developer must assure the City, in writing, that the flood-carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of the watercourse in question will be preserved.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §6(d)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §4-5</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</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="4-6" heading="Changes to application, permit, etc.">
    <text>After the issuance of a building permit by the Building Official, no changes of any kind may be made to the application, permit, or any of the plans, specifications, or other documents submitted with the application without the written consent or approval of the Building Official.</text>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §6(e)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §4-6</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="4-7" heading="Inspections; permit revocation.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Inspections by City and State.">
      <para num="(1)">During the construction period, the Building Official must inspect the premises to determine that the work is progressing in compliance with the permit and with all applicable laws.</para>
      <para num="(2)">The premises are also subject to inspection by the State Water &amp;amp; Science Administration.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Revocation of permit.">If the Building Official determines that the work is not in compliance with the permit and all applicable laws or that there has been a false statement or misrepresentation by the applicant, the Building Official, on instruction from the Planning Department, may revoke the permit and report that fact to the State Water &amp;amp; Science Administration.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §6(f)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §4-7</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</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="4-8" heading="Requisites for occupancy permit.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Elevation Certificate.">An occupancy permit issued by the Building Official:<para num="(1)">is required for all new construction and substantial improvements in the Floodplain District; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">may not be issued until the Building Official has been provided with an elevation certificate that certifies the “as-built” elevations of the new construction or substantial improvements.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Dry Floodproofing Certificate.">When applicable, a dry floodproofing certificate is also required prior to the approval of the occupancy permit.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §6(g)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §4-8</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</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="4-9" heading="Record of permit actions.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Required.">A record of all permit actions in the Floodplain District, including all permits from applicable Federal, State, and City agencies, must be maintained by the Planning Department and must be made available on the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the State Water &amp;amp; Science Administration during periodic assessments of Baltimore City’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Contents.">This record must include, at a minimum:<para num="(1)">the date the permit was issued;</para>
      <para num="(2)">the “as-built” lowest floor elevation of all new construction or substantial improvement;</para>
      <para num="(3)">a copy of all other elevation certificates submitted under this Division I;</para>
      <para num="(4)">the issuance date of any occupancy permit; and</para>
      <para num="(5)">any map amendments issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 7, §6(h)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 7, §4-9</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 88-188</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-516</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-208</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 21-020</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
