West Jordan, UT Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

Section 13-6E-9 of the Floodplain Overlay Zone article sets West Jordan's elevation and floodproofing standards. Under subsection A(1), new construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure, plus placement of manufactured homes, must have the lowest floor, including any basement, elevated above the base flood elevation. Subsection A(2) gives commercial, industrial and other nonresidential structures a choice: elevate the lowest floor the same way, or floodproof the building so it is watertight below the base flood level, with walls that resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and buoyancy, certified by a registered professional engineer or architect and filed with the city administrator.

Subsection F adds a specific freeboard-style margin for manufactured homes: any manufactured home placed or substantially improved in the R-M (residential mobile home) zone must be elevated and anchored on a permanent foundation so the lowest floor sits at least one foot above the base flood elevation, using methods such as over-the-top and frame ties to ground anchors, in addition to the wind-resistance anchoring already required. Subsection G requires enclosed areas below the lowest floor used only for parking, building access or storage to have flood vents: at least two openings with a combined net area of one square inch per square foot of enclosed area, with the bottom of each opening no higher than one foot above grade, unless a licensed engineer certifies an equivalent design.

Structural storage for chemicals, explosives or other hazardous materials must sit above the base flood elevation or be floodproofed against container flotation under subsection C.