Neenah, WI Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Freeboard
- 2 ft above regional flood
- Fill runout
- 15 ft past structure
- Fill height
- 1+ ft above flood elevation
- Legal basis
- State-mandated, Wis. Stat. § 59.692
Summary
Wisconsin's mandatory floodplain program requires Neenah's flood-fringe construction to sit at or above the 'flood protection elevation': two feet of freeboard above the regional flood level.
(1)Residential uses. Any habitable structure, including a manufactured home, which is to be erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, or moved into the flood fringe area, shall meet or exceed the following standards;(a)The elevation of the lowest floor, excluding the basement or crawlway, shall be at or above the flood protection elevation on fill. The fill shall be one foot or more above the regional flood elevation extending at least 15 feet beyond the limits of the structure.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. §§ 59.692, 87.30) requires every municipality along a lake or river to adopt floodplain zoning, and Neenah's Chapter 22 fulfills that mandate for its Lake Winnebago and Fox River frontage. Within it, 'flood protection elevation' is defined as two feet of freeboard above the regional flood's water-surface elevation. In the flood fringe district, any new or substantially altered habitable structure must have its lowest floor, excluding basement or crawlway, at or above that elevation, built on fill extending at least one foot above the regional flood elevation and running at least 15 feet past the structure.
Violations & Fines
Building or filling below the flood protection elevation without an approved variance is unlawful under the floodplain ordinance; each day of continued violation is a separate offense and can be enjoined or abated as a public nuisance (§ 22-67).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Neenah set its own flood elevation rule, or is it state law?
How high must a new home's lowest floor be in Neenah's flood fringe?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Neenah
Compare Neenah to another location·View the Wisconsin environmental rules overview
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