Bellevue, WA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Bellevue, WA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Governing FIS/FIRM date
- August 19, 2020
- Design standard
- ASCE 7 Ch. 5 and ASCE 24
- Cross-referenced LUC section
- 20.25H.175 / 20.25H.175A
- Adopting ordinance
- Ord. 6781 § 6, 2024
- Enforcing office
- Development Services Dept. building official
Summary
Bellevue amends the International Building Code to require that construction in flood hazard areas follow the FEMA Flood Insurance Study for King County and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps, both dated August 19, 2020. Design elevations must meet ASCE 24 and cross-referenced Land Use Code Section 20.25H.175.
1612.3 Establishment of flood hazard areas. To establish flood hazard areas, the applicable governing authority shall adopt a flood hazard map and supporting data. The flood hazard map shall include, at a minimum, areas of special flood hazard as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an engineering report entitled "The Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for King County, Washington, and Incorporated Areas," dated August 19, 2020, and any revisions thereto, with the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), dated August 19, 2020, and any revisions thereto.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6929, passed July 14, 2026).
Full Breakdown
3, the city adopts the FEMA "Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for King County, Washington, and Incorporated Areas," dated August 19, 2020, along with its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) of the same date, as the map and data establishing flood hazard areas citywide. 5, the city's "Floodplain/Floodway Analysis" procedure. 2 requires the applicant to submit a floodway analysis proving the proposed work still meets those same Surface Water Engineering Standards. 2 additionally ties design and construction in flood hazard areas, including areas exposed to high-velocity wave action, to ASCE 7 Chapter 5 and ASCE 24.
130(C) and (G), and, for coastal high-hazard and coastal A zones, the elevation of the lowest horizontal structural member plus statements confirming ASCE 24 compliance for pile or column foundations, breakaway walls, and dry floodproofing where used. All of these amendments were adopted by Ordinance 6781 Section 6 in 2024.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required flood-hazard documentation or design-flood-elevation determination blocks permit issuance and final inspection sign-off under BCC 23.05.130; the Development Services Department, acting through the building official, enforces compliance and can withhold occupancy approval until a registered design professional's sealed statements satisfy Section 1612.4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What flood map does Bellevue use?
What if my lot has no mapped design flood elevation?
What documentation does the city require before building in a flood zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellevue
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Flood Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle flood zones.