Bonita Springs, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Sec. 24-105 of the Bonita Springs Code is the provision that prints a base flood elevation plus one foot standard. It lets accessory structures sit below the elevations required by the Florida Building Code, but only if they are used for parking or storage and they meet the limits of Sec. 24-87 on regulated floodways. In special flood hazard areas (zone A/AE) other than coastal high hazard areas, the structure must be one-story, not larger than 600 square feet, and fitted with flood openings under Section R322.2 of the Florida Building Code, Residential. In coastal high hazard areas (zone V/VE), it cannot sit below elevated buildings and cannot be larger than 100 sq. ft.

Every non-elevated accessory structure must be anchored against flotation, collapse or lateral movement from flood loads. Flood damage-resistant materials must be used below the base flood elevation plus one foot, and mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, including plumbing fixtures, must be elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot.

The code defines base flood elevation as the elevation of the base flood, including wave height, relative to the NGVD, NAVD or other datum on the Flood Insurance Rate Map. Design flood elevation is the elevation of the design flood, including wave height, relative to the datum on the community's flood hazard map; in zone AO it is the highest existing grade of the building's perimeter plus the depth number on the map, or two feet where no depth is specified. Other development must keep mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems above the design flood elevation or meet ASCE 24 (Sec. 24-104). Subdivision preliminary plats must show base flood elevations and design flood elevations (Sec. 24-83), and Sec. 24-46(2) bars development that raises the base flood elevation more than one foot at any point in the community.