23.33.030 GENERAL PROVISIONS.

(a) Applicability. This chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazards within the jurisdiction of the City of San Mateo.

(b) Basis for Establishing the Areas of Special Flood Hazard. The areas of special flood hazard identified by the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) initiated on October 19, 2001, on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), dated October 19, 2001, and all subsequent amendments or revisions, are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter. This mapping is the minimum area of applicability of this chapter and may be supplemented by studies for other areas which allow implementation of this chapter and which are recommended to the City Council by the Floodplain Administrator.

(c) Compliance. No structure or land shall hereafter be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered without full compliance with the term of this chapter and other applicable regulations. Violation of the requirements (including violations of conditions and safeguards established in connection with conditions) shall constitute a public offense. Nothing herein shall prevent the City from taking such lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.

(d) Abrogation and Greater Restrictions. This chapter is not intended to repeal, abrogate, or impair any existing easements, covenants, or deed restrictions. However, where this chapter and another ordinance, easement, covenant, or deed restriction conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent restrictions shall prevail.

(e) Interpretation. In the interpretation and application of this chapter, all provisions shall be:

(1) Considered as minimum requirements;

(2) Liberally construed in favor of the governing body; and

(3) Deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers granted under state statutes.