Boone County, MO Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Authority: Mo. Rev. Stat. Ch. 64 and Boone County Zoning Ordinance Section 22 (Floodplain). All building permit applications in unincorporated Boone County are checked against the FEMA flood maps to determine the location of any proposed structure relative to the regulatory floodplain. Floodway: building is generally prohibited; agricultural structures may be permitted if designed to allow flood waters to pass through. Floodplain Fringe (Special Flood Hazard Area outside the floodway): residential structures must have the lowest floor elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), and non-residential structures may be elevated or dry/wet flood-proofed to BFE. Substantial improvements (defined under NFIP as repairs/improvements equal to or exceeding 50% of market value) trigger full compliance with current floodplain rules. Boone County also administers a Stream Buffer ordinance (passed May 2009, effective June 1, 2009) restricting disturbance within buffers along streams, and a Stormwater ordinance (passed Feb 2, 2010, effective April 15, 2010). Flood-prone corridors include the Missouri River along the southern county line, Perche Creek, Cedar Creek, and Hinkson Creek (26 miles long, draining 88.5 square miles entirely within Boone County). Property owners can use the Boone County Floodplain Information Viewer to check flood zone status.