Monterey County, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Monterey County participates in the FEMA NFIP through MCC Chapter 16.16, the Countywide Floodplain Ordinance. The Director of Housing and Community Development serves as the County Floodplain Administrator. All development in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) - shown as Zone A, AE, AO, AH, or VE on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) - requires Floodplain Administrator review and approval before any construction permit issues. Within the 100-year floodplain, residential structures must have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), and non-residential structures must either be elevated or dry-floodproofed. Development within 200 feet of a riverbank may require a Use Permit. The County's most flood-prone areas include: the Salinas River corridor (which flooded extensively in 2023, prompting evacuation orders for much of the Salinas Valley); the Pajaro River, which forms the county boundary with Santa Cruz County and breached its levee in March 2023 destroying much of the town of Pajaro; the Carmel River (subject to lagoon flooding); and coastal lagoons at Moss Landing, Elkhorn Slough, Marina, and Carmel. Flood disclosure on sale is required under Cal. Civil Code section 1103. Coastal flood hazards (VE Zone, wave-action) intersect with Title 20 Coastal Implementation Plan requirements.