Evansville, IN Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Freeboard
- BFE plus two feet (the FPG)
- Zone A/AE residential
- Lowest floor at or above FPG
- Nonresidential option
- Elevate or floodproof to FPG
- Verification
- Certified elevation certificate required
Summary
Evansville sets its flood protection grade at base flood elevation plus two feet of freeboard, and requires new or substantially improved structures in Zone A and AE to build to or above that height.
In Zone A and Zone AE, new construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, at or above the FPG. Should solid foundation perimeter walls be used to elevate a structure, openings sufficient to facilitate the unimpeded movements of floodwaters shall be provided in accordance with the standards of subsection (B)(3) of this section. Should fill be used to elevate a structure, the standards of subsection (B)(4) of this section must be met.
(3) Fully enclosed areas formed by foundation and other exterior walls below the FPG shall meet the following requirements:
(a) Designed to preclude finished living space and designed to allow for the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters to equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls. Flood openings must be designed and installed in compliance with criteria set out in FEMA Technical Bulletin 1. Engineered flood openings must be designed and certified by a registered design professional (requires supporting engineering certification or make/model specific ICC-ES report), or meet the following criteria for nonengineered flood openings:
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-2026-12, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Evansville, Indiana defines the flood protection grade (FPG) as the base flood elevation (BFE) plus two feet of freeboard. In Zone A and Zone AE, new construction or substantial improvement of a residential structure must have its lowest floor, including any basement, at or above the FPG; nonresidential structures may instead be floodproofed to that height. The Floodplain Administrator, under the joint Evansville-Vanderburgh Building Commission, verifies compliance through a licensed surveyor's or engineer's elevation certificate before a certificate of occupancy is issued, per EMC 16.10.085.
Violations & Fines
Failing to meet the FPG standard blocks issuance of a certificate of completion or occupancy until a corrected elevation certificate is filed; noncompliance is also a common-nuisance violation under EMC 16.10.075, with each day treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much freeboard does Evansville require above base flood elevation?
Can a business floodproof instead of elevating in an Evansville flood zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evansville
Compare Evansville to another location·View the Indiana environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.