The County revised the Flood Ordinance section of the Unified Development Ordinance on November 5, 2018.
The new flood Insurance rate maps reduce the number of properties located in special flood hazard areas. Please remember that Low Flood Risk does not mean No Flood Risk! If your property is no longer mapped in a special flood hazard area; that does not mean that it is not subject to flooding. It is still important to purchase flood insurance. More than 20% of all flood insurance claims through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are on properties that are not located in special flood hazard areas.
The Board of Commissioners considered the reduction of properties in special flood hazard areas (SHFA) and increased the required freeboard from 1 foot to 2 feet. This ordinance change will provide greater protection for structures within the SFHA.
Contact Planning & Inspections Department staff at 252-232-3055 with questions regarding the ordinance and flood maps.
