Battle Creek, MI Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Section 1442.13 of the Battle Creek Codified Ordinances designates the regulated flood prone hazard areas by adopting the FEMA Flood Insurance Study entitled Calhoun County, Michigan (All Jurisdictions), dated 4/4/11, together with Flood Insurance Rate Map panels 26025C 0156C through 0335C as listed in the section. The adoption serves the administration of the Michigan Construction Code, is declared part of Section 1612.3 of the Michigan Building Code, and supplies the Flood Hazards entry in Table R301.2(1) of the Michigan Residential Code. Section 1442.01 explains the purpose: the City participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, and Battle Creek assumed administration of the State Construction Code, including Appendix G of the Michigan Building Code.

Permits are required broadly. Section 1442.02 bars anyone from erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, improving, moving or demolishing any building or structure without a separate permit for each one, and bars any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling, until a separate permit is obtained for each change. Each mobile home placed on land also needs its own permit. The permit comes from the responsible person, defined in Section 1442.015(i) as the Superintendent of Building Inspection or an authorized representative, with the standard building permit fee (Section 1442.03).

Section 1442.04 makes that official check that every permit needed for floodplain development has been issued, including a floodplain permit, approval or letter of no authority from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality or its successor under Part 31 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451. Where a site falls in a flood hazard area, the Michigan Residential Code and Appendix G of the Michigan Building Code apply according to their terms.

Floodways are the strictest zone. Section 1442.14 prohibits encroachments, including fill, new construction and substantial improvements, unless a technical evaluation shows no increase in flood levels during the base flood discharge, and prohibits placing a mobile home in a floodway except in an existing mobile home park or subdivision. Section 1442.15 provides that the State Construction Code controls if it conflicts with Chapter 1442.