Sedgwick County, KS Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Sec. 13-68(a)(1) governs the standard case: in zones AE, AH, and AO where base flood elevation data has been provided, new construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure must have the lowest floor elevated to at least two feet of freeboard above the base flood elevation. Nonresidential structures under Sec. 13-68(a)(2) face the same two-foot freeboard standard, or may instead be floodproofed to one foot above base flood elevation with a registered professional engineer or architect certifying the design. Where no detailed study exists (unnumbered zone A), Sec.

13-68(b) raises the freeboard requirement to three feet for both residential and nonresidential construction. Manufactured homes and recreational vehicles carry their own anchoring and elevation rules under Sec. 13-68(a)(4)-(5), including a 4,800-pound anchoring-system capacity requirement. Before any of this construction can proceed, Sec. 13-37 requires a floodplain development permit, and Sec. 13-42 requires the administrator to file a recorded elevation certificate affidavit with the Sedgwick County Register of Deeds for every permit issued, listing the legal description, the lowest floor's mean sea level elevation, any floodproofing elevation, and the record owner's name; that affidavit must be filed before any framing inspection and is recorded at the applicant's expense. Sec. 06 for property inside city limits.