Sampson County, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Sec. 2-3-05.A(4) requires all new electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and air conditioning equipment, along with water heaters, meter panels, and outlets, to be located at or above the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation (RFPE), or specially designed to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads during flooding. Sec. 2-3-05.B(1) then sets the same RFPE floor for the reference level, including any basement, of new or substantially improved residential structures, including manufactured homes. Non-residential buildings in Zones A, AE, AH, AO, or A99 may floodproof to the RFPE instead of elevating, but a registered engineer or architect must certify the floodproofing under Sec.

2-3-05.B(2). Where FEMA has not mapped a Base Flood Elevation, Zone AO shallow-flooding areas get their own numeric standard under Sec. 2-3-05.G(1): the reference level must sit at least as high as the FIRM's printed depth number plus 2 feet of freeboard above the highest adjacent grade, or 2 feet above grade if no depth number is shown. Manufactured homes elevated more than 36 inches above grade on their chassis need an engineered foundation certification under Sec. 2-3-05.B(3)(b). A narrow carve-out in Sec. 2-3-05.B(8) lets accessory structures of 600 square feet or less in A, AO, AH, and AE zones skip the elevation and floodproofing standard if they are unheated, not used for living space, firmly anchored, and fitted with flood openings.