New Haven County, CT Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

New Haven County combines two flood regimes. Along the Long Island Sound shoreline (Milford, West Haven, New Haven, East Haven, Branford, Guilford, Madison) the Connecticut Coastal Management Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 22a-90 through 22a-112) requires a Coastal Site Plan Review for development within the coastal boundary, administered by the local zoning commission with CT DEEP review. Inland, the Quinnipiac River through Meriden, Wallingford, North Haven, and New Haven, plus the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers through Waterbury, Naugatuck, Derby, Ansonia, Seymour, and Shelton, produce extensive Special Flood Hazard Areas. The Connecticut Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act, Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 22a-36 through 22a-45, requires a permit from the local Inland Wetlands Agency for regulated activities in or within an upland review area of any wetland or watercourse. The state Flood Management Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 25-68b through 25-68h) requires state agency activities and state-funded projects in floodplains to be elevated or floodproofed at least one foot above the base flood elevation and to comply with FEMA NFIP standards. All Connecticut municipalities participate in the NFIP and must adopt and enforce a local flood-damage-prevention ordinance to maintain eligibility. Activities in tidal, coastal, or navigable waters require a Structures, Dredging and Fill permit from CT DEEP under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 22a-361.