Sec. 24. (a) This section does not apply to the reconstruction of a residence located in a boundary river floodway.
(b) A person may not begin the reconstruction of an abode or a residence that is located in a floodway and is substantially damaged (as defined in 44 CFR 59.1, as in effect on January 1, 1993) unless the person has:
(1) obtained a permit under this section or section 26.5 of this chapter; or
(2) demonstrated to the department through the submission of material facts, plans, and specifications that the material used to elevate the reconstructed abode or residence:
(A) does not extend beyond the original foundation of the abode or residence; and
(B) meets the criteria set forth in subsection (d)(2) through (d)(7).
(c) A person who desires to reconstruct an abode or a residence that does not meet the requirements under subsection (b)(2) must file with the director a verified written application for a permit accompanied by a nonrefundable minimum fee of fifty dollars ($50). An application submitted under this section must do the following:
(1) Set forth the material facts concerning the proposed reconstruction.
(2) Include the plans and specifications for the reconstruction.
(d) The director may issue a permit to an applicant under this section only if the applicant has clearly proven all of the following:
(1) The abode or residence will be reconstructed:
(A) in the area of the original foundation and in substantially the same configuration as the former abode or residence; or
(B) in a location that is, as determined by the director, safer than the location of the original foundation.
(2) The lowest floor elevation of the abode or residence as reconstructed, including the basement, will be at least two (2) feet above the one hundred (100) year flood elevation.
(3) The abode or residence will be designed or modified and adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy.
(4) The abode or residence will be reconstructed with materials resistant to flood damage.
(5) The abode or residence will be reconstructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damages.
(6) The abode or residence will be reconstructed with electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities that are designed and located to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.
(7) The abode or residence, as reconstructed, will comply with the minimum requirements for floodplain management set forth in 44 CFR Part 60, as in effect on January 1, 1993.
(e) When granting a permit under this section, the director may establish and incorporate into the permit certain conditions and restrictions that the director considers necessary for the purposes of this chapter.
(f) A permit issued by the director under this section is void if the reconstruction authorized by the permit is not commenced within two (2) years after the permit is issued.
(g) The director shall send a copy of each permit issued under this section to each river basin commission organized under:
(1) IC 14-29-7 or IC 13-2-27 (before its repeal); or
(2) IC 14-13-9, IC 14-30-1 (before its repeal), or IC 36-7-6 (before its repeal);
that is affected by the permit.
(h) The person to whom a permit is issued under this section shall post and maintain the permit at the site of the reconstruction authorized by the permit.
(i) A person who knowingly:
(1) begins the reconstruction of an abode or a residence in violation of subsection (b);
(2) violates a condition or restriction of a permit issued under this section; or
(3) fails to post and maintain a permit at a reconstruction site in violation of subsection (h);
commits a Class B infraction. Each day that the person is in violation of subsection (b), the permit, or subsection (h) constitutes a separate infraction.
[Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 13-2-22-13.2.]
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.21. Amended by P.L.135-1997, SEC.15; P.L.71-2004, SEC.17; P.L.53-2008, SEC.1; P.L.195-2017, SEC.46; P.L.282-2019, SEC.10.