South Jordan, UT Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential floor
- at/above base flood elevation
- Applies in
- FEMA special flood hazard areas
- Requires
- development permit before construction
- Local freeboard
- none set beyond FEMA baseline
Summary
New and substantially improved residential structures in South Jordan's mapped flood hazard areas must have their lowest floor, including any basement, built at or above the FEMA base flood elevation before a permit issues.
Residential Construction: New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Nonresidential Construction: New construction and substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial or other nonresidential structure shall either have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to the level of the base flood elevation; or, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, shall: Be floodproofed so that below the base flood elevation the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water; Have structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy; and Be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the provisions of this subsection. Such certifications shall be provided to the official as set forth in subsection 13.24.130C2 of this chapter.
Full Breakdown
In areas of special flood hazard mapped on the city's FEMA-adopted flood insurance rate maps, section 13.24.160 requires new construction and substantial improvement of a residential structure to have its lowest floor, including any basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Nonresidential structures may instead be floodproofed to that same level and certified by a licensed engineer or architect. A development permit administered by the city engineer, showing the lowest-floor elevation, must be obtained before construction begins in these areas; the code sets no separate local freeboard margin above the FEMA baseline.
Violations & Fines
Building below the required elevation, or without the floodplain development permit and elevation certificate section 13.24 requires, is presumed a violation until compliance documentation is provided to the city engineer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must a new home be built in a South Jordan flood zone?
Who administers South Jordan's flood elevation permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in South Jordan
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Flood Elevation Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle flood elevation requirements.