Fort Worth, TX Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Under City Code § 7-347(a), new construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure in a special flood hazard area must have the lowest floor, including the basement, finished garage, and any machinery or equipment servicing the building, elevated at least two feet above the fully developed base flood elevation or the FEMA regulatory base flood elevation, whichever is greater. A registered public land surveyor or professional engineer must certify to the floodplain administrator that this standard and § 7-333(a)(3) are satisfied. Nonresidential buildings under § 7-347(b) get the same two-foot freeboard option, or they can be floodproofed watertight below that elevation with a licensed engineer's certification.

Section 7-346 layers on general standards: all new construction must anchor against flotation and lateral movement, use flood-resistant materials, and elevate electrical, heating, and plumbing equipment at least two feet above the fully developed base flood elevation. Development in a special flood hazard area first requires a floodplain development permit under § 7-318; work must start within six months of approval and the permit expires 24 months after issuance unless the floodplain administrator grants a written extension for justifiable cause. The floodplain administrator, designated under § 7-331 as the Director of Transportation and Public Works or a designee, can suspend or revoke a permit issued in error or based on incorrect information.

Variance requests under § 7-334 require the administrator to rule within 30 days and to mail certified, written notice that flood insurance costs will rise if a structure is allowed to be built below the standard minimum elevation.