Stratford, CT Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

The elevation rule sits in Chapter 102, Flood Damage Prevention, of the Stratford Code. It applies in areas of special flood hazard where base flood elevation data has been provided under § 102-7 or § 102-14B. Under § 102-18(A), new construction and substantial improvements of any residential structure must have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to at least the base flood elevation. The words printed in § 102-18 set the floor at the BFE itself and print no additional margin for Zones A and AE.

Nonresidential buildings get a choice under § 102-18(B). A commercial, industrial or other nonresidential structure can elevate its lowest floor to at least the BFE, or it can be floodproofed to the base flood level so the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to water. Floodproofing also requires structural components that resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and buoyancy, with certification by a registered professional engineer or architect.

Fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that serve only parking, building access or storage must have a minimum of two openings with a total area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area, and the bottom of every opening can be no higher than one foot above grade (§ 102-18(C)).

Coastal VE zones are tougher. Section 102-19(B)(1) requires the bottom of the lowest horizontal supporting member to sit at least one foot above the BFE, with utility equipment elevated to or above the BFE. Section 102-22 requires above-ground tanks to be elevated above the BFE on a concrete pad, or anchored with the top of the fill pipe extended above the BFE. Under § 102-24, a structure in two or more flood zones must meet the most restrictive zone's standards and be built to the highest BFE.

Section 102-7 notes that BFEs printed on a FIRM are only approximate and should be verified against the BFEs published in the Flood Insurance Study for a specific location. A variance holder under § 102-15 receives written notice that the lowest floor will sit below the BFE and that flood insurance will cost commensurate with the increased risk.