Lynchburg, VA Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

3(a) sets Lynchburg's residential freeboard standard: new construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure, including a replacement manufactured home, in an AE or A Zone with a detailed base flood elevation (BFE) must have its lowest floor, including any basement, elevated to or above the base flood level plus 12 inches. 3(b), or may floodproof instead if a registered professional engineer or architect certifies the building is watertight to that same elevation. 3 as the water surface elevation with a one percent annual chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, referenced to the datum on the City's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), which for Lynchburg was prepared by FEMA effective June 3, 2008.

4 still requires the lowest floor to be elevated to or above the base flood level plus 12 inches once an applicant develops that elevation using accepted hydrologic methods. 3(c) limits them to parking, building access, or limited storage, requires flood-resistant construction materials, and mandates flood vents sized at one square inch of opening per square foot of enclosed area. The floodplain administrator collects elevation certificates during permitting to document compliance.