FEMA flood zone rules in El Paso County, CO — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
El Paso County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and enforces FEMA floodplain regulations in unincorporated areas. The Fountain Creek watershed and other drainages pose significant flood risk, and development in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) requires permits.
El Paso County's unincorporated areas include extensive FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), particularly along Fountain Creek and its tributaries in the eastern and southern portions of the county. El Paso County participates in the NFIP through a Floodplain Management Program administered by the county. Development within SFHAs requires a Floodplain Development Permit from El Paso County Engineering. Structures in Zone AE (100-year floodplain) must be elevated above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) by at least one foot (freeboard requirement). Substantial improvements to existing structures in the floodplain also trigger these requirements. The county has adopted a Floodplain Management Ordinance consistent with FEMA requirements. Flood insurance is required for federally-backed mortgages on properties in SFHAs.
Development in SFHA without a floodplain permit: stop-work order; potential NFIP sanctions; retroactive compliance required.
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See how El Paso County's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
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