Hillsborough County, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Freeboard
- BFE + 3 feet
- Applies to
- New critical facilities
- Alternate standard
- 500-year flood elevation, if higher
- Access routes
- Must reach 500-year flood level
Summary
Hillsborough County requires new critical facilities in flood hazard areas to sit three feet above base flood elevation, or use the 500-year flood level if it is higher.
New critical facilities shall, to the extent feasible, be located outside of the special flood hazard area, outside of the 0.2 percent annual chance (500-year) floodplain, and on land that is higher than three (3) feet above the nearest base flood elevation. If documentation is provided that feasible sites that satisfy the objectives of a proposed critical facility are not available outside of the special flood hazard area, outside of the 500-year floodplain, and on land that is higher than three (3) feet above the nearest base flood elevation:
1. The critical facility shall be elevated or protected to or above the nearest base flood elevation plus three (3) feet or the 500-year flood elevation, whichever is higher.
2. The critical facility shall have access routes that are elevated to or above the
Full Breakdown
Under the county's Flood Damage Control Regulations, new critical facilities must, where feasible, avoid the special flood hazard area, the 500-year floodplain, and any land lower than three feet above the nearest base flood elevation. Where no feasible alternate site exists, the facility itself must be elevated or protected to at least base flood elevation plus three feet of freeboard, or the 500-year flood elevation, whichever is higher, and its access routes must reach the 500-year flood elevation. Ordinary buildings outside this critical-facilities category follow the flood load and elevation requirements of ASCE 24 as adopted through the Florida Building Code and Hillsborough County Construction Code, not a separate LDC freeboard figure.
Violations & Fines
Constructing or siting a critical facility below the required elevation without qualifying for the feasibility exception violates Part 3.06.00 and can block permit issuance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much freeboard does Hillsborough County require for critical facilities?
Does the 3-foot freeboard rule apply to a regular house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsborough County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Hillsborough County to another location·View the Florida environmental rules overview
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