Sumter County, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sumter County Code § 6-72
- Elevation standard
- Base flood elevation plus 1 foot minimum
- AO Zones
- Depth number on FIRM plus 1 foot
- Enforcing office
- Sumter County Building Services
- Exception
- Enclosures follow FBC Residential § R322.2.2
Summary
Sumter County's local amendment to the Florida Building Code, Residential, Sec. 6-72, requires the lowest floor of buildings in flood hazard areas to sit at or above the base flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard, or the design flood elevation if that is higher, exceeding the state's base minimum.
R322.2.1 Elevation requirements. 1.Buildings and structures in flood hazard areas not designated as Coastal A Zones shall have the lowest floors elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 1 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.2.Buildings and structures in flood hazard areas designated as Coastal A Zones shall have the lowest floors elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 1 foot (305 mm), or to the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.3.In areas of shallow flooding (AO Zones), buildings and structures shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated at least as high above the highest adjacent grade as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM plus 1 foot, or at least 3 feet if a depth number is not specified.4.Basement floors that are below grade on all sides shall be elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 1 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher. Exception: Enclosed areas below the design flood elevation, including basements whose floors are not below grade on all sides, shall meet the requirements of Section R322.2.2.
Full Breakdown
1 through Sec. 6-72 of the county code to add a one-foot freeboard requirement on top of the base flood elevation. In flood hazard areas that are not Coastal A Zones, the lowest floor of a building or structure must be elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot, or to the design flood elevation, whichever is higher. The same plus-one-foot standard applies in Coastal A Zones. In AO Zones, areas of shallow flooding, the lowest floor, including any basement, must sit at least as high above the highest adjacent grade as the depth number shown on the FIRM plus one foot, or at least three feet if no depth number is specified on the map.
Basement floors that are below grade on every side are held to the same base-flood-elevation-plus-one-foot standard. 2. Because this is a technical amendment to the state building code rather than a stand-alone article, it is enforced through the ordinary building permit and inspection process administered by Sumter County Building Services rather than through the county's separate floodplain management ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 6-72 sets a design standard rather than a stand-alone offense: compliance is checked by Building Services at plan review and at the framing and final inspections required for any permit in a flood hazard area. A lowest floor built below base flood elevation plus one foot fails inspection, and the permit cannot close out or convert to a certificate of occupancy until the elevation is corrected or properly certified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sumter County require freeboard above base flood elevation?
What is the elevation requirement in an AO Zone in Sumter County?
Are basements allowed below the freeboard elevation in Sumter County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sumter County
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