Springfield, OH Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Springfield's Floodplain Regulations define Flood Protection Elevation (FPE) as the base flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard; where no base flood elevation exists from an authoritative source, the Floodplain Administrator may substitute historical flood elevations or an approved determination (Section 971.02(p)). New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure, including manufactured homes, must have the lowest floor, including any basement, elevated to or above the FPE; if FPE data are not available, the lowest floor must sit at least two feet above the highest adjacent natural grade (Section 971.04(d)(4)).

Commercial, industrial and other nonresidential structures face the same lowest-floor standard unless they are dry floodproofed to the FPE, built with components rated to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads, and certified on a FEMA Floodproofing Certificate by a registered engineer or architect (Section 971.04(e)(2)). Structures elevated on pilings, columns, posts or solid perimeter walls without a basement may enclose the area below the lowest floor only for parking, building access or storage, and the enclosure needs either an engineer-certified automatic equalization design or at least two openings on different walls totaling one square inch of net area per square foot of enclosed space, with opening bottoms no higher than one foot above grade (Section 971.04(d)(5)).

Accessory structures of 600 square feet or less can get relief from full elevation or floodproofing if built of flood-resistant materials, anchored against flotation and fitted with the same low-opening venting (Section 971.04(f)). Repair of a historic structure is exempt from these elevation standards when the work is the minimum necessary to keep its historic designation (Section 971.04(d)(7)).