Elizabeth, NJ Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

120, the FHACA's minimum statewide elevation requirements for lowest floors in A, Coastal A and V zones, ASCE 24 requirements for critical facilities under the building code, and additional freeboard set by the chapter. For a delineated watercourse, the LDFE is the best-available flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard. For an undelineated watercourse with a contributory drainage area of 50 acres or more, an applicant must supply either an unexpired NJDEP flood hazard area verification plus one foot of freeboard, or a sealed Method 5 or Method 6 determination plus one foot of freeboard and any additional ASCE 24 freeboard.

In Zone AO areas, the LDFE is the FIRM panel's highest adjacent grade plus the specified depth number plus one foot of freeboard, or three feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is shown. 2 percent annual chance (500-year) flood elevation or the flood hazard area design flood elevation plus two additional feet of freeboard under ASCE 24. Class III critical facilities in coastal high hazard areas get the same 500-year/FHACA comparison but with one additional foot of freeboard. 800 then requires the lowest floor of new or substantially improved habitable buildings, including basements and attendant utilities, to be elevated to or above the LDFE and confirmed by an elevation certificate.