Weber County, UT Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Elevation standard
- 1 ft above base flood elevation
- Certifier
- PE, architect, or land surveyor
- Flood vent ratio
- 1 sq in per sq ft enclosed area
- Crawlspace height cap
- 4 feet below floor joist
- Manufactured homes
- Elevated to/above base flood elevation
- RV exemption
- On site under 180 consecutive days
Summary
New homes and substantially improved residential structures in Weber County's mapped flood hazard areas must have their lowest floor, including any basement, built at least one foot above the base flood elevation. A registered engineer, architect, or land surveyor has to certify the as-built elevation to the Floodplain Administrator before the structure is signed off.
Sec 22-5-2 Specific Standards ... Residential Construction: New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to one foot above the base flood elevation. If a freeboard option is noted, new construction and substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to the freeboard elevation. A registered professional engineer, architect, or land surveyor shall submit certified elevations to the Floodplain Administrator that the standards of this Title are satisfied.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: ?).
Full Breakdown
Section 22-5-2's residential construction standard sets the elevation floor for the whole title: new construction and substantial improvement of a residential structure must have the lowest floor, including any basement, elevated to one foot above the base flood elevation, or to a higher noted freeboard elevation if the county has adopted a freeboard option for that area. Nonresidential buildings get an alternative: elevate to the same one-foot standard or design the structure to be watertight and able to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads below the base flood elevation, certified by a licensed engineer or architect.
Enclosed areas below the lowest floor used for parking, access, or storage must equalize floodwater pressure through flood vents totaling at least one square inch of opening per square foot of enclosed area, with the bottom of each opening no more than one foot above grade. Crawlspace construction below the base flood elevation is capped at four feet of interior height, with the interior grade no more than two feet below the lowest adjacent grade, and is barred entirely where flood velocities exceed five feet per second absent a qualified engineer's design.
Manufactured homes must be elevated to or above the base flood elevation and anchored against flotation and lateral movement, and recreational vehicles are exempt from these elevation rules only if they stay on site fewer than 180 consecutive days or remain fully licensed and ready for highway use.
Violations & Fines
A structure built or substantially improved without the required elevation certification is treated as noncompliant with Title 22 and, under Section 22-3-10, exposes the responsible party to a misdemeanor charge carrying up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of the violation a separate offense; the floodplain administrator may also issue a stop-work order under Section 22-3-9 and require costs be paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high above base flood elevation must a new home's lowest floor sit?
Who has to certify the elevation of a new flood-zone structure?
What are the rules for a basement or crawlspace below the flood elevation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Weber County
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