§ 12-1. Statutory authorization and purpose.

This chapter is adopted pursuant to the authority granted to localities by the Code of Virginia, § 10.1-600 et seq. The purpose of these provisions is to prevent the loss of life and property, the creation of health and safety hazards, the disruption of commerce and governmental services, the extraordinary and unnecessary expenditure of public funds for flood protection and relief, and the impairment of the tax base by:

(1)

Regulating uses, activities, and development which, alone or in combination with other existing or future uses, activities, and development, will cause unacceptable increases in flood heights, velocities, and frequencies;

(2)

Restricting or prohibiting certain uses, activities, and development from locating within districts subject to flooding;

(3)

Requiring all those uses, activities, and developments that do occur in floodprone districts to be protected and/or flood proofed against flooding and flood damage; and

(4)

Protecting individuals from buying land and structures which are unsuited for intended purposes because of flood hazards.