Jefferson County, TX Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Jefferson County's Flood Damage Prevention Order was amended by Commissioners Court on June 27, 2023. Administration falls to the Environmental Control Department, with Ronda Conlin serving as Director and Floodplain Administrator (7933 Viterbo Road Ste 4, Beaumont, TX 77705 — (409) 719-5910). Any development — new construction, substantial improvement (improvement equal to or exceeding 50 percent of pre-improvement market value), fill, or grading — within a FEMA-designated SFHA shown on the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM, 2007 effective date) requires a Development Permit before work begins; permits are typically issued in 5–10 business days and remain active for one year. Lowest-floor elevation must equal or exceed the Base Flood Elevation, and an Elevation Certificate is required for A-zone properties. Development within a regulatory floodway is prohibited unless a Texas-licensed professional engineer certifies that the proposed work will cause no increase in BFE (44 CFR §60.3(d)(3)). HB 2833 mandates three inspections (foundation, framing, completion). Drainage District 6 covers about 40 percent of northern Jefferson County (Beaumont area, 1,091+ linear miles of ditches and outfalls) and operates under a 2007 Drainage Criteria Manual; Drainage District 7 covers 107.42 square miles in south Jefferson County (Port Arthur, Groves, Nederland, Port Neches). Federal lenders cannot close on a federally-backed mortgage in an SFHA without flood insurance under 42 U.S.C. §4012a.