Guilford County, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

The Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation (RFPE) is the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus two feet of freeboard where FEMA has determined a BFE, or at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade where no BFE has been set (UDO Subsec. 12 - Definitions). Under Subsec. a, new residential construction and substantial improvements, including manufactured homes, must have their reference level, including any basement, built no lower than the RFPE. Non-residential structures face the same elevation standard but may floodproof to the RFPE instead in A, AE, AH, AO and A99 zones, certified by a registered engineer or architect (Subsec.

b). A Floodplain Development Permit from the Floodplain Administrator is required before any development in a Special Flood Hazard Area, with a plot plan showing the SFHA boundary, flood zone, floodway or Non-Encroachment Area, and BFE (Subsec. 1). Where no BFE has been published by FEMA, new construction within 20 feet of the top of bank, or five times the stream width, is barred absent an engineer's certification that it will not raise flood levels (Subsec. 1). Fill is generally prohibited in a Special Flood Hazard Area, including building on fill, subject to narrow exceptions for stream restoration (Subsec.

p). Violating any part of Subsec. S. 58, fined up to $100 and up to 30 days in jail, with each day a separate offense (Subsec. 1).