Walton County, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- FIS/FIRM adoption date
- December 30, 2020
- Default BFE without data
- 3 ft above highest adjacent grade
- Elevation certificate form
- FEMA Form 81-31
- Enforcing office
- Floodplain Administrator, Planning & Development Services
- Variance body
- Walton County Board of Adjustments
- Records location
- 842 State Highway 20, Unit 110, Freeport
Summary
In unincorporated Walton County, the Floodplain Management Ordinance adopts the December 30, 2020 Flood Insurance Study and its Flood Insurance Rate Maps by reference as the minimum basis for setting base flood elevations. Where a FIRM shows no base flood elevation, the Floodplain Administrator can default it to three feet above the highest adjacent grade unless site data shows deeper flooding, or can require the applicant's own engineering study instead.
C.Basis for establishing flood hazard areas. The Flood Insurance Study for Walton County, Florida and Incorporated Areas dated December 30, 2020, and all subsequent amendments and revisions, and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), and all subsequent amendments and revisions to such maps, are adopted by reference as a part of this ordinance and shall serve as the minimum basis for establishing flood hazard areas. ... b.Specify that the base flood elevation is three feet above the highest adjacent grade at the location of the development, provided there is no evidence indicating flood depths have been or may be greater than three feet.
Full Breakdown
00 is the county's Floodplain Management Ordinance, administered alongside the Florida Building Code by the Floodplain Administrator in Planning and Development Services (842 State Highway 20, Unit 110, Freeport). 02(C), the Flood Insurance Study for Walton County dated December 30, 2020, and its accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps, are adopted by reference as the minimum basis for delineating flood hazard areas and setting base flood elevations everywhere in unincorporated Walton County, including the South Walton beach communities. 06(B)(3)(b) lets the Floodplain Administrator default the base flood elevation to three feet above the highest adjacent grade at the site, unless evidence shows deeper flooding is possible; otherwise the applicant must submit engineering data prepared under currently accepted practices.
10(D) requires an Elevation Certificate on FEMA Form 81-31 showing the proposed lowest floor elevation, with a second certificate due within 30 days of the lowest floor being placed and a final certificate before the building can receive power. 09 and can draw a stop-work order from the Floodplain Administrator. 08, which cannot be granted in a floodway if it would raise base flood elevations, and any denial can be appealed to circuit court.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required floodplain development permit, or without documented lowest-floor elevation, is presumed a violation under § 4.09.09, exposing the owner to a stop-work order from the Floodplain Administrator and penalties under Chapter 7 of the Land Development Code. Continuing work after a stop-work order or notice of violation is a separate offense. Variances that would raise base flood elevations in a regulatory floodway are barred outright, and any lowest-floor variance below base flood elevation triggers a written notice of the resulting flood-insurance cost increase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What document sets the base flood elevation for my Walton County property?
What if my lot's flood zone has no listed base flood elevation?
What proof of elevation does the county require during construction?
Can I get a variance to build below the required elevation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Walton County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Walton County to another location·View the Florida environmental rules overview
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