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

The Unified Development Ordinance sets the county's Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation at the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus three feet of freeboard, or, where FEMA has not published a BFE, at least three feet above the highest adjacent grade (UDO Sec. 2, definition of "Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation"). Sec. " Non-residential structures face the identical elevation floor, or may be dry-floodproofed to that elevation instead if a registered professional engineer or architect certifies the design under Sec. 2(B). Mechanical and utility equipment, including HVAC units, water heaters, and electric panels, must be located to keep water out up to the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation under Sec.

1(D). Manufactured homes must have their reference level elevated to the same standard, and if the chassis sits more than 36 inches above grade an engineering certification is required (Sec. 2(C)). Applicants file a Floodplain Development Permit before any development activity in a Special Flood Hazard Area (Sec. 3) and must submit three separate FEMA Elevation Certificates (Form 81-31): before construction starts, within seven calendar days of the reference level being set, and a final as-built certificate before a Certificate of Compliance or Occupancy issues (Sec.

2(C)). Deficiencies caught on review must be corrected before work proceeds; unresolved deficiencies trigger a stop-work order. The Gaston County Flood Control Board, ordinarily served by the Planning and Zoning Board, hears variance requests and must find good cause and exceptional hardship before granting one (Sec. 5).