Lakeville, MN Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Section 11-101-7.C defines the "regulatory flood protection elevation" as an elevation no lower than one foot above the elevation of the regional flood, plus any increases in flood elevation caused by encroachments on the floodplain that result from designation of a floodway; that one foot cushion above the base regional flood is Lakeville's freeboard standard, and it is the elevation to which lowest floors, mechanical equipment, and floodproofing in the FW, FF, and GFD districts must be built or protected under chapter 101. For lakes without a FEMA base flood elevation, section 11-101-7.D substitutes a regional flood elevation drawn from the Flood Insurance Study for Dakota County or the Lakeville water resources management plan, referenced to the NAVD88 datum, and lists specific elevations for Crystal Lake, Goose Lake, Kingsley Lake, Lake Marion, Lee Lake, Orchard Lake, and Raven Lake.

Accessory structures that are floodproofed rather than elevated must still get mechanical and utility equipment above the regulatory flood protection elevation or otherwise properly floodproofed, and must include openings sized at one square inch per square foot of enclosed flood-prone area under section 11-101-11.E. The Regional Flood Elevation table and the FEMA panel numbers were both adopted by reference under section 11-101-7.B, dated December 2, 2011, and the city engineer certifies as-built elevations for elevated or floodproofed structures under subsection 11-101-23.G. The freeboard standard was adopted by Ordinance 883 on September 19, 2011.