The Floodplain Development Permit is required for any construction, fill, or land alteration within/adjacent to the 100-year floodplain. This permit ensures that development complies with FEMA regulations and local floodplain ordinances, helping to reduce flood risks and maintain eligibility for flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Any development in the floodplain without this permit is illegal and can be reported to the city.

A Floodplain Development Permit is required if:

• A new structure is being built in a floodplain.
• An existing building is being expanded or renovated in a flood zone.
• Fill is being placed, grading is being done, or ground elevation is being altered in or near a floodplain.
• Mechanical or electrical equipment (such as HVAC systems or generators) is being installed below the Base Flood Elevation (BFE).
• Utilities, septic systems, or driveways are being installed or modified in a flood-prone area.
• The project is located in a floodway, where stricter rules are applied.
• Bank stabilization, culvert installation, or drainage changes are being proposed.

An Elevation Certificate is a document that shows a building’s height compared to expected flood levels. It’s used to check flood risk and help set insurance rates.

BFE (Base Flood Elevation)
The elevation to which floodwater is anticipated to rise during a base (1%-annual-chance/100YR) flood.

FFE (Finished Floor Elevation)
The top elevation of the finished floor inside a structure, typically the main floor of occupancy.

LAG (Lowest Adjacent Grade)
The lowest ground level that touches any part of the building's exterior.

HAG (Highest Adjacent Grade)
The highest ground level that touches any part of the building's exterior.

ZONE A
A flood zone with a 1% annual chance of flooding, where no detailed flood elevations (BFE) have been determined.

ZONE AE
A high-risk flood zone with a 1% annual chance of flooding; BFEs have been established and are shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).

ZONE X (shaded and unshaded)
Areas of moderate to minimal flood risk:

• Shaded Zone X: 0.2% annual chance flood (500-year floodplain).
• Unshaded Zone X: Areas outside the 500-year floodplain with minimal flood risk.

ZONE V
Coastal areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding and additional hazards due to storm-induced velocity wave action; no BFEs provided.

ZONE VE
Coastal high-risk areas with wave action hazards; BFEs have been determined.

M&E (Mechanical & Electrical Equipment)
Mechanical and electrical systems (like HVAC units, electrical panels, water heaters) that must be elevated or protected from floodwater in flood-prone areas.

A No Rise Certificate is a document issued by a licensed engineer confirming that a proposed development will not increase flood levels during a base flood event, ensuring compliance with floodplain management regulations and preventing adverse impacts on flood flows.

FEMA Website

Date: (MM/DD/YYYY)

"NO-RISE / NO-IMPACT" CERTIFICATION

This document is to certify that I am a duly qualified engineer licensed to practice in the State of (State Name). It is further certified that the attached technical data support the conclusion that the proposed development will not have an impact on the floodplain at published cross-sections in the Flood Insurance Study for (County Name), dated (Flood Study Date), and will not impact the base flood elevations, floodway elevations, and floodway widths at the unpublished cross-sections (RS XXXX, RS XXXX, etc) in the area of the proposed development.

We would like to know if there are any additional documents needed to proceed with the development. Please feel free to contact me at (XXX) XXX-XXXX, (XXX) XXX-XXXX, or (email@example.com).

Thanks,
(Name), PE
(Company Name)