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1. Can I build in the floodplain?

Most development activities are allowed in floodplains, if built to certain standards. These standards include very specific building requirements such as raising the first floor elevation to one foot above the 100-foot flood elevation, and mitigation requirements to ensure that development does not cause flood elevations to rise on neighboring properties. In general, residential and commercial development is not allowed in floodways, and if an existing structure in the floodway is significantly damaged by a flood it cannot be rebuilt.

2. What types of flood hazard zones are shown on a Flood Insurance Rate Map?

There are three basic types of flood hazard zones shown on a flood insurance map.

Zones that start with an "A" (A, AE, AH, AO) are 100-year floodplains that are determined by a Flood Insurance Study. In most instances, base flood elevations (the elevation of the predicted flood level) are derived from detailed hydraulic modeling.

Zone X shows area outside the 100-year floodplain, but within the 500-year floodplain.

Finally, floodways are located in the immediate vicinity of the stream and depict areas of high flood hazard.