Seminole County, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger point
- lowest floor/basement placement
- Governing section
- Sec. 110.3.3
- Standard applied
- FBC Sec. 1612.4 / R322
- CO condition
- as-built elevation doc, Sec. 111.2(6)
- Modification route
- Sec. 104.10.1 plus variance Sec. 117.1
Summary
In Seminole County flood hazard areas, builders must submit an elevation certificate the moment the lowest floor, including any basement, is placed and before any further vertical construction proceeds. Section 110.3.3 ties that certification to Section 1612.4 of the Florida Building Code, Building, and Section R322 of the Florida Building Code, Residential.
110.3.3 Lowest floor elevation. In flood hazard areas, upon placement of the lowest floor, including the basement, and prior to further vertical construction, the elevation certification required in Section 1612.4 and Section R322 of the Florida Building Code, Residential, shall be submitted to the building official.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 1 | Land Development Code: Supplement 2).
Full Breakdown
3 of the county's Building and Construction Code Appendix A requires an elevation certification the moment the lowest floor of a structure in a flood hazard area, including a basement, has been placed and before any further vertical construction takes place. 4 of the Florida Building Code, Building, or Section R322 of the Florida Building Code, Residential, whichever applies to the structure, and it is submitted directly to the Seminole County building official rather than filed later. 2(6) requires the certificate of occupancy record to contain a statement that documentation of the as-built lowest floor elevation has been provided and is retained in the authority's files, so a project cannot receive final sign-off without that paper trail.
73(5), Florida Statutes. Because the lowest floor elevation is checked mid-construction rather than only at final inspection, a builder who pours a slab or sets floor framing below the required elevation faces a rework order rather than a paperwork fix after the fact.
Violations & Fines
Proceeding with framing or further vertical construction before the required elevation certification is submitted under Section 110.3.3 violates the code and can draw a stop-work order under Section 115.1; the building official will also withhold the certificate of occupancy under Section 111.2(6) until as-built lowest floor elevation documentation is on file, and continued work after a stop-work order carries penalties under Section 115.3 and Section 114.4.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must I submit my flood elevation certificate?
Will I get a certificate of occupancy without an elevation certificate?
Can the elevation requirement be modified for my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seminole County
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