Topic outline

  • Coastal Construction: Investigating Regulatory Requirements

    Credits: 2 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    States and communities throughout the United States enforce regulatory requirements that determine where and how buildings may be sited, designed, and constructed. These requirements include those associated with regulatory programs established by Federal and State statutes and locally adopted floodplain management ordinances, building codes, subdivision regulations, and other land use ordinances and laws.

    Applicable regulatory programs include the NFIP, which is intended to reduce the loss of life and damage caused by natural hazards, and programs established to protect wetlands and other wildlife habitat, which seek to minimize degradation of the environment. In addition, States and communities enforce requirements aimed specifically at the regulation of construction
    along the shorelines of oceans, bays, and lakes.

    Federal, State, and local regulatory requirements can have a significant effect on the siting, design, construction, and cost of buildings. Therefore, designers, property owners, and builders engaged in residential construction projects in the coastal environment should conduct a thorough investigation to identify all regulations that may affect their properties and projects.

    Topics:

    • Land Use Regulations
    • Coastal Barrier Resource Areas and Other Protected Areas
    • Coastal Zone Management Regulations
    • National Flood Insurance Program
    • History of the National Flood Insurance Act (NFIP)
    • FEMA Flood Hazard Studies
    • Minimum Regulatory Requirements
    • Minimum Requirements in All Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA)
    • Additional Minimum Requirements for Buildings in Zone A
    • Building Elevation in Zones AE, A1–A30, AO, and A
    • Enclosures Below the Lowest Floor in Zones AE, A1–A30, AO, and A
    • Additional Minimum Requirements for Buildings in Zone V
    • Regulatory Requirements for Siting, Building Elev., Foundations, Use of Fill, Space below the BFE
    • Community Rating System
    • Building Codes and Standards
    • Best Practices for Exceeding Minimum NFIP Regulatory Requirements
    • Summary of NFIP Regulatory Requirements and Recommendations

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: This course is intended for Construction, Civil, Coastal, Facilities, Geotechnical, and other engineers whose job description may require a general knowledge of regulatory requirements for coastal construction.
    Publication Source: US FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Authority)

    Donald Parnell, PE

    • Topic 1