Volusia County, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Accessory structure freeboard
- Base flood elevation plus 1 foot
- Critical facility freeboard
- Base flood elevation plus 2 feet, or 500-yr
- Accessory size cap
- 600 sq ft (100 sq ft in V/VE zones)
- Verification
- Florida-licensed surveyor elevation certificate required
- Governing section
- County Code § 72-756(c)-(d)
Summary
Structures built in a Volusia County flood hazard area must sit above the base flood elevation, not just at it. County Code § 72-756(c)-(d) requires flood-damage-resistant materials and equipment at least one foot above base flood elevation for accessory structures, and two feet above for new critical facilities like fire stations and hospitals.
(5)Have flood damage-resistant materials used below the base flood elevation plus one foot.(6)Have mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, including plumbing fixtures, elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot.(d)Critical facilities. New critical facilities shall be, to the extent possible, located outside of flood hazard areas. New critical facilities shall be permitted in flood hazard area if there is no feasible alternative location. Where permitted:(1)The elevation required for the lowest floor, lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor, or dry floodproofing, as applicable, shall be at or above the base flood elevation, plus two feet, or the 500-year flood elevation, whichever is higher.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 108 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 72-756 sits in the Floodplain Management Ordinance's development-standards division and layers county-specific freeboard on top of the Florida Building Code and ASCE 24. 2, is anchored against flotation and lateral movement, and, critically, uses flood damage-resistant materials and keeps mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems no lower than base flood elevation plus one foot. Subsection (d) is stricter for new critical facilities such as designated shelters, power plants, water and wastewater utilities, hospitals, nursing homes and police, fire and emergency response installations: wherever no feasible alternative site outside the flood hazard area exists, the lowest floor, lowest horizontal structural member, or dry floodproofing must sit at or above base flood elevation plus two feet, or the 500-year flood elevation, whichever is higher, with floodproofing and sealing to keep toxic substances from being displaced by floodwater.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 72-747 requires the owner to submit a Florida-licensed surveyor's certification of lowest-floor elevation, or documentation of height above grade, before vertical construction proceeds past the lowest floor, and again at final inspection. Under § 72-749, a building lacking that elevation certification is presumed to be in violation until the documentation is produced, exposing the project to a stop-work order from the floodplain administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far above the flood line must a shed be built in Volusia County?
Do fire stations and hospitals get extra flood protection in Volusia County?
How does the county verify a building meets the elevation requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Volusia County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Volusia County to another location·View the Florida environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.