Jupiter, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Section 22-251, adopted by Ordinance No. 27-24 as a local amendment to the Florida Building Code, sets Jupiter's minimum building elevations inside FEMA-mapped flood hazard areas. The lowest floor, any dry floodproofing measure, or the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member, whichever applies to the occupancy and flood zone, must sit at or above the base flood elevation plus 1.5 feet of freeboard, or the design flood elevation, whichever number is higher. Base flood elevation itself is defined in § 22-3 as the elevation of the flood having a one-percent annual chance of being equaled or exceeded, commonly called the 100-year flood, measured against the datum shown on the FEMA flood insurance rate map.

The same section bars using fill to support a building's foundation, except in stem-wall construction, and prohibits solid walls beneath elevated buildings in coastal high hazard (V-zone) and Coastal A zones; only breakaway lattice or decorative screening is allowed below those structures. Enclosed areas below an elevated dwelling can't be partitioned into finished rooms, aside from stairwells, ramps, elevators or fire-code-required partitions, and access to them is limited to what a garage door, standard exterior door, or stairway or elevator entry requires.

A property owner who believes the site's unique size, shape or topography makes compliance impossible can seek a variance from the construction board of adjustments and appeals under §§ 22-208 and 22-209, but the board cannot grant one if it would raise the base flood elevation in a floodway, and any variance allowing a lowest floor below the required elevation requires written notice that federal flood insurance could cost as much as $25.00 per $100.00 of coverage.