Catawba County, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Sec. 05 defines three linked terms that drive every elevation requirement in the floodplain chapter. ' 'Freeboard' is 'the height added to the base flood elevation (BFE) to account for the many unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood,' such as wave action or blockage of bridge openings. Combining the two produces the 'regulatory flood protection elevation,' defined as 'the elevation, in relation to mean sea level, to which the reference level of all structures and other development located within special flood hazard areas must be protected,' and set at 'the BFE plus two feet of freeboard' where a BFE has been determined, or 'at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade' where none has been established.

Sec. ' Nonresidential structures face the same floor under Sec. 15(2), though they may floodproof to that elevation instead of physically elevating, watertight to the regulatory flood protection elevation and certified by a professional engineer or architect. Manufactured homes must be elevated to the same standard under Sec. 15(3), and elevation or floodproofing certificates confirming the two-foot freeboard was met are required under Sec. 09 before a certificate of occupancy issues.