Hamburg Village, NY Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

The elevation rule is in § 146-5C of the Code of the Village of Hamburg, within Chapter 146, Flood Damage Prevention, adopted by the Board of Trustees on 4-15-2019. It applies to new and substantially improved residential structures located in areas of special flood hazard, in addition to the subdivision, encroachment and all-structure standards in § 146-5A and § 146-5B.

In Zones A1-A30, AE and AH, and in Zone A if base flood elevation data are available, the lowest floor (including basement) must be elevated to or above two feet above the base flood elevation. In Zone A where no base flood elevation data are available, the lowest floor (including basement) must be at least three feet above the highest adjacent grade. In Zone AO the lowest floor must be above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number on the Flood Insurance Rate Map plus two feet, or at least three feet if no depth number is specified. In Zones AH and AO, adequate drainage paths must guide floodwaters around and away from structures on slopes.

Other printed elevation points reinforce the standard. Under § 146-5B(3), new and replacement electrical equipment, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, plumbing connections and other service equipment must be at least two feet above the base flood elevation, or at least three feet above the highest adjacent grade in a Zone A without an available base flood elevation, or be designed to keep water out. Fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor may be used solely for parking, building access or storage and need at least two openings with a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area, with the bottom of each opening no higher than one foot above the lowest adjacent finished grade. Enclosed areas subgrade on all sides are considered basements and are not permitted.

After the lowest floor is placed, the permit holder submits a certified as-built elevation (§ 146-4C(4)). Further work before the certification is approved is at the permit holder's risk, and deficiencies are cause for a stop-work order.