Wake County, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Elevation standard
- Lowest floor at/above RFPE
- RFPE equals
- Base (100-year) flood elevation
- Plan review
- Dept. of Environmental Services
- Applies to
- New construction + major repairs
Summary
New homes in Wake County's mapped flood hazard areas must have their lowest floor, including any basement, built at or above the regulatory flood protection elevation.
14-18-3In all areas of special flood hazard:(A)New residential construction or major repairs of any residential structure must have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the regulatory flood protection elevation (RFPE);(B)New nonresidential construction or major repairs of any commercial, industrial or other nonresidential structure must have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the level of the regulatory flood protection elevation (RFPE);
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Unified Development Ordinance: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
In areas of special flood hazard, Wake County's flood damage prevention standards require new residential construction and major repairs to elevate the lowest floor, including any basement, to or above the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation, or RFPE (§14-18-3(A)). The same floor-elevation rule applies to nonresidential structures, which may floodproof instead if certified by a licensed engineer or architect (§14-18-3(B)). RFPE is defined as the base 100-year flood elevation (§14-12). A building permit for these areas can't issue until Environmental Services reviews the plans (§14-14-1).
Violations & Fines
Building below the required elevation, or without Department of Environmental Services plan review, blocks issuance of a Certificate of Compliance/Occupancy and exposes the owner to UDO Article 20 enforcement, including permit denial and a $100/day civil penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must a new home be built in a Wake County flood zone?
Does Wake County require extra freeboard above the base flood elevation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wake County
Compare Wake County to another location·View the North Carolina environmental rules overview
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