Meriden, CT Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Meriden Code § 110-19A requires that new construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure within an area of special flood hazard have the lowest floor, including the basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot. Subsection B extends a parallel but flexible standard to nonresidential structures: they must either meet the same one-foot-above-BFE elevation for the lowest floor, or be floodproofed, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, so that below BFE plus one foot the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to water, capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads, and certified by a registered Connecticut professional engineer or architect that those standards are met.

These freeboard standards apply, per § 110-19's opening clause, in all areas of special flood hazard where base flood elevation data has been provided under § 110-7 or § 110-14B. Subsection C adds design requirements for elevated buildings with enclosed areas below BFE, including a minimum of two openings totaling at least one square inch of net area per square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding, with the bottom of each opening no higher than one foot above grade, to allow floodwaters to enter and exit automatically and equalize hydrostatic pressure; electrical, plumbing and other utility connections are prohibited below the base flood elevation in those enclosed areas.

Subsection E further requires the same base flood elevation plus one foot standard for substantial improvements, additions or accessory structures to both residential and nonresidential structures located in unnumbered A Zones and Zones A1-30/A4 on the FIRM.