Doral, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Freeboard in special flood hazard area
- BFE + 1 foot minimum (§23-301.2(1)a)
- Alternate benchmarks
- Sidewalk or road crown +1 ft, whichever higher
- Residential, outside SFHA
- Sidewalk/crown + 8 inches (§23-301.2(1)b)
- Nonresidential, outside SFHA
- Sidewalk/crown + 4 inches (§23-301.2(1)c)
- Accessory structures below BFE
- Must meet §23-301.3 conditions
- Violation fine
- Up to $500/day (§23-109.4)
Summary
Buildings in a Doral special flood hazard area must be elevated at least one foot above whichever is highest of three benchmarks: the base flood elevation, the back-of-sidewalk elevation, or the crown of the abutting road. Section 23-301.2(1)a layers this local one-foot freeboard on top of the Florida Building Code's minimum elevation standard.
(1)Additional elevation of buildings.a.For buildings located in the special flood hazard area, the minimum elevation requirements in the Florida Building Code shall be to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot, or the back of the sidewalk elevation plus one foot, or if there is no sidewalk, the elevation of the crown of the road or street abutting such building site plus one foot, whichever is higher.
Full Breakdown
2, adopted pursuant to Chapter 8, Article III of the Miami-Dade County Code, sets Doral's specific elevation requirements on top of the Florida Building Code. For buildings in the special flood hazard area, item (1)a requires the minimum elevation to be at or above the base flood elevation plus one foot, or the back-of-sidewalk elevation plus one foot, or the crown-of-road elevation plus one foot where there is no sidewalk, whichever of those is highest. Outside the special flood hazard area, item (1)b requires residential buildings to sit at least eight inches above the sidewalk or road crown, and item (1)c requires nonresidential buildings to sit at least four inches above the same benchmarks.
2, anchored against flotation, built with flood damage-resistant materials below the base flood elevation plus one foot, and equipped with mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems raised to that same plus-one-foot level. 1 requires a Florida-licensed surveyor's elevation certification of the lowest floor before further vertical construction proceeds, and Section 23-108 requires sellers of property in a special flood hazard area to disclose in the sale contract that the structure may need to be raised to the applicable flood elevation if substantially damaged or improved.
Violations & Fines
Building without meeting the elevation requirement, or without the lowest-floor elevation certification required by Section 23-106.1.2.1, is a violation under Section 23-109, carrying a fine of up to $500 per day plus costs of the case. A building lacking the required elevation documentation is presumed to be in violation until it is provided, and the floodplain administrator can require correction before final inspection or certificate of occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high above the base flood elevation must a new Doral home be built?
Does the one-foot freeboard rule apply outside the mapped flood zone too?
Can I build storage space below the base flood elevation in Doral?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Doral
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Flood Elevation Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle flood elevation requirements.