15.04.070 Duties and responsibilities of the Building Official.
A. Duties of the Building Official shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Permit review, which shall involve the review of all applications for building permits to determine:
a. That the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied;
b. That all necessary permits have been obtained from those federal, state or local governmental agencies from which prior approval is required;
c. That the proposed development is not located in the floodway. If the proposed development is located in the floodway, to assure that the provisions of RMC 15.04.160 are met;
d. That the site is reasonably safe from flooding; and
e. Notify FEMA when annexations occur in the special flood hazard area.
2. Information to Be Obtained and Maintained.
a. Where base flood elevation data is provided through the Flood Insurance Study, FIRM, or required in this chapter, obtain and record the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new or substantially improved structures, and whether or not the structure contains a basement. Documentation of the actual elevation will be documented in the form of a FEMA Elevation Certificate.
b. For all new or substantially improved floodproofed structures where base flood elevation data is provided through the Flood Insurance Study, FIRM, or as required in this chapter:
i. Obtain and record the elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which the structure was floodproofed; and
ii. Maintain the floodproofing certifications required in RMC 15.04.080 through 15.04.160.
c. Certification required by RMC 15.04.160A.
d. Records of all variance actions, including justification for their issuance.
e. Improvement and damage calculations.
f. Maintain for public inspection all records pertaining to the provisions of this chapter forever.
3. Notification of the alteration of watercourses and maintenance of flood-carrying capacity, consisting of the following:
a. Notify adjacent communities and the State Department of Ecology, prior to any alteration or relocation of the Sammamish River, Bear Creek, Evans Creek and Lake Sammamish, and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administration; and
b. Require that maintenance is provided within the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse so that the flood-carrying capacity is not diminished.
4. Interpretation of FIRM Boundaries. Together with the technical committee, make interpretation where needed as to exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazards (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions). The technical committee shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other source in making such interpretations in order to administer RMC 15.04.130 through 15.04.170. Any person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given thirty days to appeal the interpretation in writing to the board of adjustment or its successor.
5. Review of Building Permits. Where elevation data is not available either through the FIS, FIRM, or from another authoritative source (see RMC 15.04.075), applications for floodplain development shall be reviewed to assure that proposed construction will be reasonably safe from flooding. The test of reasonableness is a local judgment and includes use of historical data, high water marks, photographs of past flooding, etc., where available.
(Failure to elevate habitable buildings at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade in these zones may result in higher insurance rates.)
6. Changes to the Special Flood Hazard Area.
a. If a project will alter the BFE or boundaries of the SFHA, then the project proponent shall provide the community with engineering documentation and analysis regarding the proposed change. If the change to the BFE or boundaries of the SFHA would normally require a Letter of Map Change, then the project proponent shall initiate, and receive approval of, a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) prior to approval of the development permit. The project shall be constructed in a manner consistent with the approved CLOMR.
b. If a CLOMR application is made, then the project proponent shall also supply the full CLOMR documentation package to the Floodplain Administrator to be attached to the floodplain development permit, including all required property owner notifications. (Ord. 3006 § 2 (part), 2020: Ord. 2737 § 2 (part), 2014: Ord. 2202 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1519 § 1 (part), 1989; Ord. 863 § 7, 1979).