Flood Zones: Stamford vs Stratford
How do flood zones rules compare between Stamford, CT and Stratford, CT?
Stamford and Stratford have similar restriction levels.
Stamford, CT
Fairfield County
Stamford enforces FEMA flood zone development standards. Properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas face elevation requirements, flood insurance mandates, and construction restrictions.
View full Stamford rules →Stratford, CT
Fairfield County
Fairfield County has no operational county government (abolished 1960). Flood-zone regulation in coastal Fairfield County (Stamford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Greenwich, Westport, Fairfield) is governed by FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, the Connecticut Coastal Management Act under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 22a-90 through 22a-112, and the state Flood Management Act in Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 476a. Public Act 12-101 added sea-level-rise into the Coastal Management Act, and Connecticut requires at least two feet of freeboard above base flood elevation within the coastal boundary.
View full Stratford rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Stamford | Stratford |
|---|---|---|
| SFHA Zones | Elevation required | - |
| Insurance | Required in flood zones | - |
| Floodway | No fill or structures | - |
| Topic | Flood Zones | - |
| County Government | - | None (abolished 1960) |
| Coastal Statute | - | Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 22a-90 through 22a-112 |
| Flood Management | - | Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 476a |
| Coastal Boundary | - | 100-yr flood, 1,000 ft from MHW, or 1,000 ft from tidal wetlands (Sec. 22a-94) |
| Coastal Site Plan | - | Required (Sec. 22a-109) |
| Coastal Freeboard | - | +2 ft above BFE (plus SLR) |
| Tidal Permit | - | CT DEEP Sec. 22a-361 |
| Civil Penalty | - | Up to $25,000/day (Sec. 22a-6b) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Stamford FAQ
Is my property in a flood zone?
Check FEMA Flood Map Service Center or contact Stamford planning department. Flood maps are updated periodically and your zone may have changed.
Do I need flood insurance?
Flood insurance is required for federally-backed mortgages in Special Flood Hazard Areas. Even outside SFHA zones, flood insurance is recommended.
Stratford FAQ
Do I need a state permit to build in a Fairfield County flood zone?
Possibly. Within the coastal boundary defined by Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 22a-94, you need coastal site plan review by the local Planning & Zoning Commission under Sec. 22a-109. Work in tidal, coastal, or navigable waters requires a Structures, Dredging and Fill permit from CT DEEP under Sec. 22a-361. Building in any FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area also requires a permit from your town's Building Department under the local flood-damage-prevention ordinance.
How much above flood elevation must I build in Fairfield County?
Connecticut requires not less than two feet of freeboard above the FEMA base flood elevation for properties within the coastal boundary, plus additional freeboard accounting for the most recent sea-level-rise scenario. Towns may require more. Public Act 12-101 (2012) added sea-level-rise into the Coastal Management Act's goals.
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