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El Dorado County, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
County Code § 130.32.050
Residential floor standard
At or above BFE
Certification required by
Registered civil engineer/surveyor
New SFHA lots
Prohibited entirely in SFHA
Cumulative rise limit
No more than 1 ft BFE increase

Summary

In Special Flood Hazard Areas, El Dorado County requires new and substantially improved residential structures to have their lowest floor, including any basement, built at or above the base flood elevation shown on FEMA's flood insurance rate maps.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of El Dorado County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Residential Construction. All new and modern construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement:(1)In A1-A9, A14 and A24 Zones, at or above the base flood elevation (BFE);(2)In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), at or above the base flood elevation.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 4).

Full Breakdown

040(B)(2). Manufactured and mobile homes, and temporary mobile home/RV units placed under a hardship permit, must be elevated on a permanent foundation to the same BFE standard and securely anchored to resist flotation, collapse and lateral movement; before foundation or set-up inspection is approved, a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor must certify the lowest-floor elevation, and a County building inspector must certify the structure is properly elevated, or the County issues a stop-work order. 050(A)(3)(b) must meet the same elevation standard or be floodproofed and certified watertight by a registered civil engineer or architect.

040) reviews every development permit in a SFHA to confirm these elevation certifications are on file and that cumulative development will not raise the base flood elevation more than one foot anywhere in the County. 4.

Violations & Fines

Failing to submit the required elevation certification before foundation approval is cause for the Director to issue a stop-work order under Section 130.32.050(A)(3)(a). Broader code violations are enforced as remedial action by the Floodplain Administrator under Section 130.32.040(B)(6), referencing the general compliance provisions of Section 130.32.030(B); building permits cannot be issued relying on a Conditional Letter of Map Revision, and structures with enclosed areas below the BFE that are converted to living space without a recorded non-conversion agreement are subject to Floodplain Administrator inspection on 72 hours' notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high above flood level must a new house be built in El Dorado County?
Under Section 130.32.050(A)(3)(a), the lowest floor, including any basement, of a new or substantially improved residential structure in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area must be at or above the base flood elevation shown on the FEMA flood insurance rate map for that zone.
Who certifies the elevation before construction proceeds?
A registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor must certify the lowest-floor elevation, and a County building inspector must confirm the structure is properly elevated, before the Floodplain Administrator will approve the foundation or set-up inspection under Section 130.32.050(A)(3)(a).
Can I create a new lot entirely inside the flood hazard area?
No. Section 130.32.050(C)(1) prohibits creating new lots that lie entirely within a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, consistent with General Plan Policy 6.4.1.4, though lots only partially within the SFHA may be created if enough land outside the hazard area remains for the dwelling, accessory structures and septic system.
What if my garage floor sits below the base flood elevation?
Section 130.32.050(A)(3)(d) allows an attached garage floor slab below the BFE only if it is designed with flood openings that let water automatically enter and exit, built with flood-resistant materials, and, for a garage attached to a nonresidential building, either dry floodproofed or otherwise compliant with the same standards.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in El Dorado County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsStormwater ManagementSome RestrictionsDefensible SpaceSome RestrictionsErosion ControlSome RestrictionsFlood ZonesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions

All El Dorado County rules

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