Katy, TX Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Freeboard
- 12 inches (1 ft) above BFE
- Alt. standard
- 12 in street / 18 in curb
- Enforcer
- Building inspector (floodplain admin)
- Applies to
- New build & substantial improvement
- Updated by
- Ordinance 3032, April 2022
Summary
New construction and substantial improvements in Katy's FEMA special flood hazard area must set the finished floor at least 12 inches, one foot of freeboard, above the base flood elevation, or above the street centerline, curb top, or 500-year level, whichever is highest.
New construction of any residential structure shall be based on free-board and must include a finished floor elevation of 12 inches above the centerline of the front street, 18 inches above the top of the curb, 12 inches above the base flood (100-year floodplain) elevation, or at or above the 500-year floodplain elevation, whichever is highest.
Full Breakdown
Katy's flood hazard reduction standards require every new or substantially improved structure in a special flood hazard area to elevate its finished floor to at least 12 inches above the base flood (100-year) elevation, or 12 inches above the front-street centerline, 18 inches above the top of curb, or at/above the 500-year floodplain elevation: whichever is highest. Non-residential slab construction in the floodplain must be 12 inches above the base floodplain elevation. The city building inspector serves as floodplain administrator and must issue a development permit before work begins; surveyors certify floor elevations on both the form survey and final survey. Council tightened these rules under Ordinance 3032 (April 25, 2022) to align with Harris County.
Violations & Fines
Building or placing fill in the floodplain without a floodplain development permit, or certifying a finished floor below the required elevation, halts permit issuance and blocks final-survey approval; structures built below the base flood elevation carry markedly higher NFIP flood-insurance premiums.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much freeboard does Katy require above the base flood elevation?
Who enforces floodplain elevation rules in Katy?
Do commercial buildings face the same rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Katy
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Katy to another location·View the Texas environmental rules overview
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Flood Elevation Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fort Bend County handle flood elevation requirements.