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ORDINANCE NO. 2053
AN ORDINANCE BY THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1813, THE NORTH RICHLAND
HILLS BUILDING CODE, AS AMENDED, TO REQUIRE A MINIMUM
ELEVATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING
FOUNDATIONS; TO REQUIRE MINIMUM LOT DRAINAGE
STANDARDS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND
HILLS, TEXAS, THAT:
I.
THAT, Section 28, Ordinance 1813, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 28. Finished Floor Elevation, Lot Drainage and Flood Protection - Residential
Dwellings
This Section shall establish requirements for finished floor elevations and lot grading for
residential dwellings.
A. The finished floor elevation shall be set a minimum of 15" above the top of the curb at
the centerline of the lot on an adjacent street frontage. However, additional finished
floor elevation may be required to comply with the lot grading requirements of this
Section.
B. Lots shall be graded so as to drain surface water away from any permanent structure.
Drainage shall be consistent with the approved subdivision drainage plan, or approved
plot plan, and comply with the following:
1. The grade away from a foundation wall, on all sides except the front, shall fall a
minimum of six inches (6") within the first ten feet (10'). Where restricted by a lot
line, the fall shall be a minimum of six inches (6 ") regardless of the horizontal
distance available. However, no grade shall exceed a maximum 3 horizontal to 1
vertical (3:1) (33.3%) grade. Any swales created through the application of these
standards shall have a minimum grade of 1 %.
2. Side yard slopes shall match the natural grade at the property line or may have side
yard swales below natural grade if consistent with the drainage plan. When necessary
to comply with these criteria, a retaining wall shall be constructed.
3. When satisfying the criteria contained in this Section, no finished floor elevation of a
permanent building shall be set less than one and one-half (1.5') feet above the one
hundred (100) year frequency storm water surface elevation, or the minimum
elevation required by the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.
C. To the maximum extent possible, there shall not be less than six inches (6"), or more than
eight inches (8"), of exposed foundation above the finished lot grade prior to the structure
receiving its final inspection.
D. A drainage plan sealed by a professional engineer, registered in the State of Texas, which
shows the building footprint for the proposed structure may be submitted by the applicant
in lieu of the criteria contained in this Section. The drainage plan submittal shall require
approval of the Building Official and the Public Works Director.
E. Variances and exceptions to the lot grading requirements contained in this Section may
be considered on a case by case basis by the City Manager.
II.
THAT, Ordinance 1813, as amended, is hereby amended to insert the following new Section:
Section 29. Finished Floor Elevation, Lot Drainage and Flood Protection - Non-Residential
Structures
This Section shall establish requirements for finished floor elevations and lot grading for non-
residential structures.
A. A drainage plan sealed by a professional engineer, registered in the State of Texas, shall
be submitted by the applicant of a building permit. The drainage plan submittal shall
require approval ofthe Building Official and the Public Works Director.
B. When satisfying the criteria contained in this Section, no finished floor elevation of a
permanent building shall be set less than one and one-half (1.5') feet above the one
hundred (100) year frequency storm water surface elevation, or the minimum elevation
required by the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.
III.
THAT, the remaining sections of Ordinance 1813, as amended, be renumbered consecutively.
Ordinance No. 2053
Page 2
IV.
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. That it is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council
that the section, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance are severable, and if
any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared invalid or
unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences,
paragraphs or sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City
Council without the incorporation in this ordinance of any such invalid or unconstitutional
phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
V.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage.
PASSED, AND APPROVED this 24th day of July, 1995
APPROVED:
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Ordinance No. 2053
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