Flood Zones: El Cerrito vs Martinez
How do flood zones rules compare between El Cerrito, CA and Martinez, CA?
El Cerrito and Martinez have similar restriction levels.
El Cerrito, CA
Contra Costa County
Unincorporated Contra Costa County regulates floodplain development under Ordinance Code Chapter 914-14 to maintain FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) participation. Significant AE flood zones affect Bethel Island, Bay Point, Rodeo, and delta shoreline areas.
View full El Cerrito rules →Martinez, CA
Contra Costa County
Martinez has significant FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) along the Carquinez Strait waterfront, the Martinez Marina, and along Alhambra Creek. Properties in Zone AE and Zone VE require flood insurance for federally backed mortgages, base-flood-elevation compliance for new construction, and substantial improvement/damage review for remodels.
View full Martinez rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | El Cerrito | Martinez |
|---|---|---|
| Governing ordinance | CCC Ord. Chapter 914-14 | - |
| NFIP participation | Active — required for flood insurance | - |
| Key flood areas | Bethel Island, Bay Point, Rodeo, delta shoreline | - |
| Substantial improvement | ≥50% pre-improvement market value | - |
| Required elevation | Lowest floor at/above BFE | - |
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
El Cerrito FAQ
Is my property in a FEMA flood zone?
Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) or the CCC online zoning/GIS viewer. Significant zones exist at Bethel Island, Bay Point, and along creeks. If in Zone AE/A/VE, elevation and flood insurance apply.
Do I need flood insurance?
If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area and you have a federally backed mortgage, flood insurance is required. Even outside SFHAs, coverage is recommended — roughly 25 percent of NFIP claims come from outside mapped zones.
Martinez FAQ
Compare other topics
See how El Cerrito and Martinez compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool