Berkeley, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

12, adopted in 2009, applies to "all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the City of Berkeley," defined by the FEMA Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Alameda County dated August 3, 2009, plus later amendments. 070 makes compliance mandatory before any structure or land is "constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered" in a mapped hazard area, and makes a violation a misdemeanor. 080 is the Director of Public Works or a designee, coordinates with the Zoning Officer, Building Official, and City Engineer to require duplicate scaled plans showing lot elevations, utility locations, grading and drainage, floodway boundaries, and the proposed elevation of the lowest floor before any permit issues.

The Administrator must also confirm that a project will not raise the base flood water surface elevation by more than one foot anywhere in the city, and cannot issue permits based on a conditional letter of map revision. 100 requires new water and sewage systems in flood hazard areas to be designed to keep floodwater out of the pipes and to stop system discharge into floodwaters, and requires on-site waste disposal systems to be sited so they are not contaminated by flooding. Larger subdivisions of more than 50 lots or five acres must identify hazard areas and base flood elevations on final plans and certify as-built lowest-floor and pad elevations if filled above the base flood level. Records, plans and maps are kept on file at the Department of Public Works, 1947 Center Street, 4th Floor.