Hackensack, NJ Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- City Code Ch. 89, Flood Hazard Areas
- Minimum freeboard
- 1 foot above base flood data
- Class IV critical facilities
- +2 feet freeboard (ASCE 24)
- Class III coastal facilities
- +1 foot freeboard (ASCE 24)
- Enforcing official
- Construction Official as Floodplain Administrator
- Max fine
- $2,000 per violation, per day
- NFIP participation since
- December 1, 1982
Summary
Hackensack sets a local design flood elevation (LDFE) above FEMA's base flood elevation, adding at least one foot of freeboard citywide and up to two feet for critical facilities. The Construction Official, acting as Floodplain Administrator, enforces the standard under City Code Chapter 89, with fines up to $2,000 per violation.
The local design flood elevation (LDFE) is established in the flood hazard areas determined in § 89-11, above, using the best available flood hazard data sources, and the Flood Hazard Area Control Act minimum statewide elevation requirements for lowest floors in A, Coastal A, and V Zones, ASCE 24 requirements for critical facilities as specified by the Building Code, plus additional freeboard as specified by this chapter. ... At a minimum, the local design flood elevation shall be as follows: ... For a delineated watercourse, the elevation associated with the best available flood hazard data area determined in § 89-11, above plus one foot or as described by N.J.A.C. 7:13 of freeboard; or ... Class IV critical facilities. For any proposed development of new and substantially improved flood design class IV critical facilities, the local design flood elevation must be the higher of the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood elevation or the flood hazard area design flood elevation with an additional two feet of freeboard in accordance with ASCE 24.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4592721; v20 updated 2026-01-06; through 01-06-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 89-12, the City calculates its local design flood elevation using the best available flood hazard data plus the Flood Hazard Area Control Act's minimum statewide elevation requirements for lowest floors in A, Coastal A and V Zones, plus ASCE 24 requirements for critical facilities, plus additional freeboard set by Chapter 89. C. 7:13. C. 7:13, plus additional ASCE 24 freeboard. In AO Zones, the LDFE is the highest adjacent grade plus the FIRM depth number plus one foot of freeboard, or three feet above grade if no depth number is shown.
New or substantially improved Class IV critical facilities must clear the higher of the 500-year flood elevation or the flood hazard area design flood elevation plus two additional feet of freeboard under ASCE 24; Class III critical facilities in coastal high-hazard areas get one additional foot. C. 5:23), which governs the actual structural and building standards rather than Chapter 89 itself. The City has participated in the National Flood Insurance Program since December 1, 1982 (§ 89-11), and maps establishing flood hazard areas are on file at the Construction Official's office, 216 Union Street.
Violations & Fines
Building or altering a structure without complying with Chapter 89's freeboard and elevation requirements is a violation under N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, punishable under § 89-8 by a fine of up to $2,000, up to 90 days' imprisonment, or up to 90 days' community service. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense, though an owner gets a 30-day cure period and a hearing before a fine is imposed after that window. A repeat violation within one year of a prior fined violation draws an additional fine calculated separately from the underlying penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much freeboard does Hackensack require above the base flood elevation?
Who enforces Hackensack's flood elevation requirements?
What happens if a structure is built without meeting the freeboard rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hackensack
Compare Hackensack to another location·View the New Jersey environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.