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

Brazos County is an NFIP-participating community and enforces its adopted Flood Prevention Ordinance through the Brazos County Road & Bridge Department. All construction, substantial improvement, or land-disturbing development within a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area (Zones A, AE, AO, AH, A99) on the effective FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map must obtain a Floodplain Development Permit prior to starting work; review takes approximately two weeks after document submission. Major flood sources include the Brazos River along the western county line, the Navasota River along the eastern boundary, and tributaries including Carter Creek, Wickson Creek, and Peach Creek. New residential structures in the SFHA must have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation, and non-residential structures may be elevated or floodproofed. Oil and gas development has specific rules: no development in the floodplain until a permit is issued; well pads on parcels in a FEMA SFHA carry a $500 permit fee; pipelines must be buried at least 48 inches below grade and at least 72 inches under rivers and creeks. Inside Bryan and College Station, city floodplain ordinances apply instead of the county ordinance, both with similar NFIP-minimum elevation standards. Failure to obtain a permit can stop construction, result in civil fines, and may be charged as a misdemeanor.