Battle Creek, MI Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Section 1048.10(d) of the Battle Creek Codified Ordinances sets the building protection requirements for the floodplain. Under subsection (d)(2), the lowest floor, including basements, for all new construction or substantial improvements of residential structures shall be two feet or more above the base flood elevation. If the building is placed on fill, the top of the fill must be above the flood protection elevation and extend at that elevation ten feet out from the building, unless a state licensed structural engineer certifies the design as protected from hydrostatic pressure damage. The fill must also be shown not to settle below that elevation and to be protected against erosion, scour and differential settlement.

If the building is raised on walls, pilings or another foundation, the supporting structure must be permanently open to flood waters. The permanent openings sit no more than one foot above grade, number at least two, and have a total net area of not less than one square inch for every one square foot of enclosed area below the base flood elevation. The lowest floor and all electrical, heating, ventilating, plumbing and air conditioning equipment and utility meters must be at or above the flood protection elevation, and no area below it can be used for storage.

Nonresidential buildings follow subsection (d)(3): lowest floor two feet or more above the base flood elevation, or structural dry flood proofing certified by a state licensed professional engineer or structural engineer, operable without human intervention or an outside source of electricity. Levees, berms and floodwalls do not count as flood proofing. Under (d)(4), manufactured homes and recreational vehicles on a site for more than 180 days must be elevated to or above the flood protection elevation and anchored.

The flood protection elevation is defined in Section 1048.03(u) as the base flood elevation plus a minimum 1 foot of freeboard. Base flood elevations come from the FEMA Flood Insurance Study maps and profiles, or the best available information as determined by the Director (Section 1048.10(a)). Chapter 1442 separately has the responsible person review lowest floor elevations against the State Construction Code (Section 1442.09).