Newport News, VA Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Freeboard requirement
- 2 ft above base flood elevation
- Governing section
- City Code § 45-3115(c)(1)
- Applies to
- New construction & substantial improvements
- Verification
- Elevation certificate filed with city
Summary
Newport News requires new and substantially improved homes in mapped flood zones to elevate their lowest floor at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation -- the city's local freeboard requirement above FEMA's minimum.
New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) in zones AE, AO, and A with detailed base flood elevations shall at a minimum have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to two (2) feet above the base flood level.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 81).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 45-3115(c)(1) sets the elevation standard for residential construction in zones AE, AO, and A with detailed base flood elevations: new construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure, including manufactured homes, must have its lowest floor -- basement included -- elevated to at least 2 feet above the base flood level. Non-residential buildings face the same 2-foot freeboard standard under § 45-3115(c)(2), though they may floodproof instead of elevating. The floodplain administrator collects elevation certificates to confirm compliance before signing off on a permit.
Violations & Fines
Building below the required 2-foot freeboard elevation without a floodproofing certification is a misdemeanor under § 45-3111(f) and can trigger denial of flood insurance coverage for the structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high above the base flood elevation must a Newport News home be built?
Can a non-residential building be floodproofed instead of elevated?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newport News
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