Warner Robins, GA Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Sec. 24-425(b)(1) sets the core freeboard standard: where base flood elevation (BFE) data are available, "new construction and/or substantial improvement of any structure or manufactured home shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than eighteen (18) inches above the base flood elevation," and any heating, air conditioning, electrical, ventilation or plumbing equipment must be elevated to that same 18-inch freeboard. Non-residential structures may be floodproofed instead of elevated, but must be watertight to 18 inches above the BFE and certified by a registered professional engineer or architect under Sec.

24-425(b)(2). Manufactured homes get the identical 18-inch lowest-floor standard, or alternatively must sit on reinforced piers at least 36 inches above grade, per Sec. 24-425(b)(3). Where a stream has no published BFE, Sec. 24-425(c)(3) instead requires the lowest floor to sit at least 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade at the building site. In AO shallow-flooding zones, Sec. 24-425(e) requires elevation to the flood depth number shown on the FIRM, or 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is given.

Sec. 24-422 defines "freeboard" as the safety-factor cushion above the calculated flood level that compensates for unknown risks like wave action and urbanization effects, and defines base flood elevation as the elevation shown on the FIRM for a flood with a one-percent annual chance of being equaled or exceeded. Sec. 24-424(b)(2) requires the permit holder to submit an as-built elevation certification, prepared by a professional engineer or licensed land surveyor, immediately after the lowest floor or floodproofing is complete; uncorrected deficiencies or a missing certification triggers a stop-work order.