Since Palm Beach County complies with the National Flood Insurance Program they set the minimum elevation of all new, or substantially improved structures. MOST, but not all, of Palm Beach Country Estates is in FEMA Flood Zone X, so not in the flood zone. If you’re in the very north end of the community you may be in the flood zone.
If one looks at Article 18 Palm Beach County Amendments to the Unified Land Development code then we see that…
4. For New Construction and Substantial Improvements, including electrical systems, equipment and components, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, plumbing appliances and plumbing fixtures, duct systems, and other service equipment, in Zones X, X500, and areas not studied, without a master stormwater drainage system, the Base Flood Elevation shall be at least 18 inches above the LARC. Flood-proofing may be used, subject to applicable provisions of the Florida Building Code, as may be amended.
The Florida Building Code requires the first floor of LIVING SPACE for all new or substantially improved structures intended for habitaion to be elevated 12″ above the Base Flood Elevation.
Thus, in paces like Jupiter Farms and thos in Palm Beach Country Estates who are NOT in a Special Flood Hazard Area there is no Base Flood Elevation specifed by FEMA on the applicable FIRM the first floor living space must be elevated 1.5’+1’=2.5′ above the Lowest Adjacent Road Crown…
Lowest Adjacent Roadway Crown (LARC) – for the purposes of Art. 18, Flood Damage Prevention, the lowest elevation of any point in the crown of a street or road immediately next to the site of a new structure. [Ord. 2004-013]
