Ogden, UT Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Ogden City Code § 15-26-8(B)
- Residential requirement
- Lowest floor at/above BFE
- AO/AH default
- 2 feet above grade if unspecified
- Nonresidential option
- Floodproofing certified per 44 CFR
- Manufactured homes
- 36-inch minimum pier height option
- RV exception
- Under 180 days, highway-ready
Summary
Ogden's floodplain development standards require new construction and substantial improvements of residential structures in mapped A, A1-30, AH or AE flood zones to have their lowest floor, including any basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. In AO or AH zones without a stated depth, the code sets a two-foot minimum above the highest adjacent grade, protecting structures from the flood the FIRM maps identify.
B. Residences: 1. New construction or substantial improvements of residential structures in the A, A1-30, AH or AE zones of the Weber County, Utah, and incorporated areas FIRM shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to, or above, the BFE;
Full Breakdown
Section 15-26-8(B) of the floodplain overlay zone chapter sets Ogden's elevation floor for homes. Paragraph 1 requires new construction or substantial improvement of a residential structure in the A, A1-30, AH or AE zones of the Weber County, Utah, and incorporated areas FIRM to have its lowest floor, including any basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation (BFE), the water surface elevation FEMA calculates for a flood with a one percent annual chance of occurring. Paragraph 2 covers the AO or AH zones: if the FIRM shows a depth number, the lowest floor must clear the highest adjacent grade by at least that depth; if no depth number is shown, the code sets a two-foot minimum above grade.
3(c)(3)(ii). Manufactured homes under subsection D must sit on a permanent, anchored foundation with the lowest floor at or above the BFE, or, in older parks predating the flood regulations, on reinforced piers at least thirty six inches high. Recreational vehicles under subsection E must either stay under 180 days and remain highway-ready, or be elevated to the BFE on an anchored foundation.
Violations & Fines
Elevation violations are enforced the same way as other Title 15 zoning violations under Section 15-1-17. Community and Economic Development investigates, and if a builder fails to elevate a structure to the required base flood elevation after written notice, the city can issue civil citations of $125.00, $250.00 and up to $500.00 for successive violations, plus pursue an injunction, and the building official must keep an elevation certificate on file with the permit records.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high above flood level must a new Ogden home be built?
What if my lot is in an AO or AH zone with no depth number listed?
Can a commercial building in Ogden's floodplain skip elevating to the BFE?
Are manufactured homes held to the same elevation rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ogden
Compare Ogden to another location·View the Utah environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.