Newark, OH Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Newark's flood hazard chapter, Chapter 1432, defines the flood protection elevation, or FPE, in § 1432.10(q). For residential structures it is the base flood elevation plus one and one-half feet of freeboard. For nonresidential structures it is the base flood elevation plus 0 feet of freeboard. Where no base flood elevations exist from any authoritative source, the FPE can be historical flood elevations, or base flood elevations determined or approved by the Floodplain Administrator, who under § 1432.11 is the Service Director.

Section 1432.27(d) applies the residential number: new construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure, including manufactured homes, must have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one and one-half feet of freeboard. Under § 1432.27(e), where no flood protection elevation data exists, the structure must have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent natural grade. Buildings without basements that are elevated to that level on pilings, columns, posts or solid foundation perimeter walls can have an enclosure below the lowest floor used only for parking of vehicles, building access, or storage, with at least two openings on different walls totaling not less than one square inch of net area for every square foot of enclosed area, the bottom of each opening no higher than one foot above grade.

Nonresidential buildings follow § 1432.28(b): the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation, or dry floodproofing so the structure is watertight to that level, certified by a registered professional engineer or architect on a Federal Emergency Management Agency Floodproofing Certificate. Section 1432.29 allows relief from the elevation or dry floodproofing standards for accessory structures containing no more than 600 square feet, provided they are not used for human habitation and meet the other listed conditions. The adopted maps are the Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map for Licking County, Ohio and Incorporated Areas, effective May 2, 2007 (§ 1432.05).