Information for Work in a Flood Zone (PDF)

Requirements for Applications for Permits to Determine Substantial 
Improvements and Repair of Substantial Damage
Please contact the Zoning Official if you have questions about the substantial improvement and 
substantial damage requirements. Your building may have to be brought into compliance with the 
floodplain management requirements for new construction. 
Applications for permits to work on existing buildings that are located in Special Flood 
Hazard Areas must include the following:
O Current photographs of the exterior (front, rear, sides)
O If your building has been damaged, include photographs of the interior and exterior;
       provide pre-damage photos of the exterior, if available  
O Detailed description of the proposed improvement (rehabilitation, remodeling, addition,
       etc.) or repairs
O Cost estimate of the proposed improvement or the cost estimate to repair the damaged
       building to its before-damage condition
O OwnerԒs affidavit (signed and dated)
O ContractorԒs affidavit (signed and dated)
Town of Waterford
Rev. 4/9/2021

Costs to Determine Substantial Improvements and Repair of Substantial Damage
Included Costs 
Items that must be included in the costs of improvement or costs to repair are those that are directly 
associated with the building. The following list of costs that must be included is not intended to be 
exhaustive, but characterizes the types of costs that must be included:
O Materials and labor, including the estimated 
value of donated or discounted materials 
and owner or volunteered labor 
O Site preparation related to the improvement 
or repair (foundation excavation, filling in 
basements)
O Demolition and construction debris disposal
O Labor and other costs associated with 
demolishing, moving, or altering 
building components to accommodate 
improvements, additions, and making 
repairs
O Costs associated with complying with any 
other regulation or code requirement that 
is triggered by the work, including costs 
to comply with the requirements of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
O Costs associated with elevating a structure to 
an elevation that is lower than the BFE
O Construction management and supervision
O Contractor’s overhead and profit
O Sales taxes on materials
O Structural elements and exterior finishes, 
including:
O Foundations (e.g., spread or continu-
ous foundation footings, perimeter walls, 
chainwalls, pilings, columns, posts, etc.)
O Monolithic or other types of concrete 
slabs
O Bearing walls, tie beams, trusses
O Joists, beams, subflooring, framing, 
ceilings
O Interior non-bearing walls
O Exterior finishes (e.g., brick, stucco, sid-
ing, painting, and trim)
O Structural elements and exterior finishes 
(cont.):
O Windows and exterior doors 
O Roofing, gutters, and downspouts
O Hardware 
O Attached decks and porches
O Interior finish elements, including:
O Floor finishes (e.g., hardwood, ce-
ramic, vinyl, linoleum, stone, and 
wall-to-wall carpet over subflooring)
O Bathroom tiling and fixtures
O Wall finishes (e.g., drywall, paint, stuc-
co, plaster, paneling, and marble)
O Built-in cabinets (e.g., kitchen, utility, 
entertainment, storage, and bathroom)
O Interior doors
O Interior finish carpentry
O Built-in bookcases and furniture
O Hardware
O Insulation
O Utility and service equipment, including:
O HVAC equipment
O Plumbing fixtures and piping
O Electrical wiring, outlets, and switches
O Light fixtures and ceiling fans
O Security systems
O Built-in appliances
O Central vacuum systems
O Water filtration, conditioning, and re-
circulation systems
Town of Waterford
Rev. 4/9/2021

Excluded Costs 
Items that can be excluded are those that are not directly associated with the building. The fol-
lowing list characterizes the types of costs that may be excluded: 
O Clean-up and trash removal 
O Costs to temporarily stabilize a building so 
that it is safe to enter to evaluate required 
repairs
O Costs to obtain or prepare plans and 
specifications
O Land survey costs
O Permit fees and inspection fees 
O Carpeting and recarpeting installed over 
finished flooring such as wood or tiling
O Outside improvements, including 
landscaping, irrigation, sidewalks, driveways, 
fences, yard lights, swimming pools, 
pool enclosures, and detached accessory 
structures (e.g., garages, sheds, and gazebos) 
O Costs required for the minimum necessary 
work to correct existing violations of health, 
safety, and sanitary codes
O Plug-in appliances such as washing 
machines, dryers, and stoves 
Town of Waterford
Rev. 4/9/2021

Owner’s Affidavit: Substantial Improvement or Repair of Substantial Damage
Property Address:
Owner’s Name:
Owner’s Address/Phone:
Contractor: 
Contractor’s License Number: 
Date of Contractor’s Estimate:  
I hereby attest that the description included in the permit application for the work on the 
existing building that is located at the property identified above is all of the work that will be 
done, including all improvements, rehabilitation, remodeling, repairs, additions, and any 
other form of improvement. I further attest that I requested the above-identified contractor to 
prepare a cost estimate for all of the work, including the contractor’s overhead and profit. I 
acknowledge that if, during the course of construction, I decide to add more work or to 
modify the work described, that the Town of Waterford will re-evaluate its comparison of the 
cost of work to the market value of the building to determine if the work is substantial 
improvement. Such re-evaluation may require revision of the permit and may subject the 
property to additional re-quirements.
I also understand that I am subject to enforcement action and/or fines if inspection of the 
property reveals that I have made or authorized repairs or improvements that were not 
included in the description of work and the cost estimate for that work that were the basis for 
issuance of a permit.
Owner’s Signature: 
Date:
Notarized:  
Town of Waterford
Rev. 4/9/2021

Contractor’s Affidavit: Substantial Improvement or Repair of Substantial Damage
Property Address:
Owner’s Name:
Owner’s Address/Phone:
Contractor: 
Contractor’s License Number: 
Date of Contractor’s Estimate:  
I hereby attest that I have personally inspected the building located at the above-referenced 
address and discussed the nature and extent of the work requested by the owner, including all 
improvements, rehabilitation, remodeling, repairs, additions, and any other form of improve-
ment. 
At the request of the owner, I have prepared a cost estimate for all of the improvement work 
requested by the owner and the cost estimate includes, at a minimum, the cost elements 
identified by the Town of Waterford that are appropriate for the nature of the work. If the work 
is repair of damage, I have prepared a cost estimate to repair the building to its pre-damage 
condition.  I acknowledge that if, during the course of construction, the owner requests more 
work or modification of the work described in the application, that a revised cost estimate 
must be provided to the Town of Waterford, which will re-evaluate its comparison of the cost of 
work to the market value of the building to determine if the work is substantial improvement. 
Such re-evaluation may require revision of the permit and may subject the property to 
additional requirements.
I also understand that I am subject to enforcement action and/or fines if inspection of the prop-
erty reveals that I have made or authorized repairs or improvements that were not included in 
the description of work and the cost estimate for that work that were the basis for issuance of a 
permit.
Owner’s Signature: 
Contractor's Signature:
Date:
Date:
Notarized:  
Town of Waterford
Rev. 4/9/2021