Apple Valley, MN Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

The Apple Valley City Council adopted Chapter 156 to keep the city in the National Flood Insurance Program and to meet 44 CFR Parts 59 to 78. Section 156.03 adopts the Flood Insurance Study "Dakota County, Minnesota And Incorporated Areas" and the FIRM panels numbered 27037C0090E, 27037C0201E, 27037C0203E, 27037C0204E and 27037C0208E, all effective December 2, 2011, as the official floodplain zoning district map. The floodplain is the Zone AE area on those panels. The FP District is an overlay: a use is allowed only if it is also allowed in the underlying zoning district, and where the two conflict the stricter rule applies.

Section 156.12 sorts uses into three tiers. Permitted uses cover land uses with no structure, such as farming, loading and parking areas, and recreation like parks, trails and boat ramps. Conditional uses need a conditional use permit and include clean earth fill to raise the lowest floor of new or existing buildings in the flood fringe, gravel mining, storage of equipment and materials, and roads and bridges built to DNR and MNDOT standards. Prohibited uses are new or used building structures in the floodway, new residential subdivisions, travel trailer parks and campgrounds, and manufactured homes on individual lots or in new parks.

Section 156.05 requires a separate permit from the Building Inspection Division for each building, structure or man-made change, including fill, grading, paving and excavation. The Community Development Director reviews applications under § 156.07. A variance follows the zoning variance procedure, with a copy of the application mailed to the Commissioner of Natural Resources so it arrives at least ten days before the City Council considers it, and no variance is issued in a regulatory floodway if flood levels would rise. Storing flammable, explosive or toxic materials in the district is prohibited.

A substantial improvement means repairs or improvements within a two-year period costing 50% of a structure's market value or more, and § 156.18 then requires the whole structure to meet the new-structure rules.