Glen Cove, NY Hurricane Preparedness: Flood Elevation (2026)

Chapter 154's coastal high hazard standards apply within Zones V1-V30, VE, or V, and in any area of moderate wave action, on the Flood Insurance Rate Map adopted at § 154-6, covering Glen Cove's harbor-facing shoreline where storm surge is the dominant flood risk. Under § 154-18A, new construction and substantial improvements must be elevated on pilings, columns, or shear walls so the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member supporting the lowest floor sits at or above two feet above base flood elevation, keeping the structure clear of the flow of water during a storm.

Subsection B requires the structural design to account for wind and water loads acting simultaneously during the base flood, including wave impact, current drag, and waterborne debris, using wind values from the Building Code of New York State. Foundation standards in Subsection C bar the use of spread footings or fill for structural support, and Subsection D sets pile-spacing and penetration requirements, including a minimum penetration of five feet below mean sea level where the base flood elevation is +10 feet or less. Breakaway walls below the elevated floor, permitted under Subsection N, must be designed to fail under loads of no more than 20 pounds per square foot so a storm surge does not damage the elevated structure above.

These standards sit on top of the general encroachment and subdivision rules in § 154-15 and the anchoring and flood-resistant-materials requirements in § 154-16 that apply citywide.