Lakewood, NJ Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum freeboard
- 1 foot above base/design flood elevation
- AO zones, no depth number
- 3 feet above highest adjacent grade
- Class IV critical facilities
- Higher of 500-year flood elevation or FHACA level
- Undelineated 50+ acre watercourse
- NJDEP verification or Method 5/6 plus freeboard
- Verified by
- Township Floodplain Administrator
- Adopted
- 7-14-2022, Ord. No. 2022-30
- Base fine
- Up to $1,250 and/or 90 days
Summary
Lakewood Township, Ocean County, New Jersey requires new and substantially improved buildings in flood hazard areas to be built to a Local Design Flood Elevation that adds at least one foot of freeboard above the mapped base flood elevation, with stricter margins for AO zones and critical facilities.
The Local Design Flood Elevation (LDFE) is established in the flood hazard areas determined in Section 29-102.2, above, using the best available flood hazard data sources, and the Flood Hazard Area Control Act minimum Statewide elevation requirements for the elevation of the top of lowest floors in A, and the elevation of the lowest horizontal structural member in Coastal A, and V zones, ASCE 24 requirements for critical facilities as specified by the building code, plus additional freeboard as specified by this chapter. At a minimum, the Local Design Flood Elevation shall be as follows: For a delineated watercourse, the elevation associated with the Best Available Flood Hazard Data Area determined in Section 29-102.2, above plus one foot or as described by N.J.A.C. 7:13 of freeboard.
Full Breakdown
3, added July 14, 2022 by Ordinance No. 2. The LDFE is built from the best available flood hazard data, the Flood Hazard Area Control Act's Statewide minimum elevation requirements for the top of the lowest floor in A zones and the lowest horizontal structural member in Coastal A and V zones, ASCE 24 requirements for critical facilities, plus additional freeboard the chapter itself adds. C. 7:13, whichever governs. C. 2-3. In Zone AO areas, the LDFE is the highest adjacent grade plus the FIRM's depth number plus one foot of freeboard, or three feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is shown.
2%-annual-chance (500-year) flood elevation or the FHACA design elevation, with added ASCE 24 freeboard; Class III critical facilities in coastal high-hazard areas get the same 500-year comparison with a one-foot ASCE 24 freeboard addition. 7.
Violations & Fines
Under § 29-101.8, building or altering a structure without meeting these elevation and freeboard requirements is a violation of N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,250, imprisonment up to 90 days, or up to 90 days of Township service, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. An owner gets a 30-day cure period and a court hearing before a fine above $1,250 can be imposed, and a repeat violation within one year draws an added fine set separately from the underlying penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much freeboard does Lakewood Township require above base flood elevation?
What elevation applies in an AO flood zone in Lakewood?
Are hospitals and other critical facilities held to a higher flood standard?
Who checks that a Lakewood building meets the required flood elevation?
What is the penalty for building below the required flood elevation in Lakewood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
Compare Lakewood to another location·View the New Jersey environmental rules overview
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Flood Elevation Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle flood elevation requirements.