Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Brooklyn Park

Brooklyn Park, MN Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in Brooklyn Park, MN, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Overlay districts: Floodway, Flood Fringe, General Flood Plain
Permit authority: City Zoning Administrator
FIRM panels adopted: 14 panels dated November 4, 2016
Conflict rule: More restrictive standard controls
Governing section: Brooklyn Park City Code § 152.801

FEMA Flood Zone Lookup

FEMA assigns every parcel in the U.S. a flood-hazard designation on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Zones starting with A or V are high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas where federally backed mortgages require NFIP flood insurance. Zone X indicates moderate-to-minimal risk, where insurance is optional but often recommended. Your specific zone determines insurance cost, build elevation, and permit requirements in Brooklyn Park, MN.

Zone	What it means	NFIP required?
A	High-risk flood area; 1% annual chance flood, no detailed analysis.	Yes
AE	High-risk; same as A but with established Base Flood Elevations.	Yes
AH	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft), usually ponding.	Yes
AO	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft) with sheet flow on sloping terrain.	Yes
V	High-risk coastal zone subject to wave action (no BFE).	Yes
VE	High-risk coastal zone with wave action and established BFEs.	Yes
X (shaded)	Moderate risk; between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood.	Recommended
X	Minimal risk; outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.	No

Look up Brooklyn Park, MN on the FEMA flood map

FEMA maps update periodically; verify zone before buying flood insurance or building.

Summary

The City of Brooklyn Park regulates Floodway, Flood Fringe, and General Flood Plain overlay districts under City Code § 152.801, requiring a Zoning Administrator permit before building, filling, excavating, or changing the use of any structure or land within the mapped flood plain.

§ 152.801 FLOOD HAZARD OVERLAY. The legislature of the State of Minnesota has, in M.S. Ch. 103F and 462 delegated the responsibility to local government units to adopt regulations designed to minimize flood losses. ... (C) ( ... 4) Permit requirements. (a) Permit required. For that portion of the property or structures in the flood plain, a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator in conformity with the provisions of this subchapter shall be secured prior to the erection, addition, modification, rehabilitation (including normal maintenance and repair over $500), or alteration of any building, structure, or portion thereof; prior to the use or change of use of a building, structure, or land; prior to the construction of a dam, fence, or on-site septic system; prior to the change or extension of a non-conforming use; prior to the repair of a structure that has been damaged by flood, fire, tornado, or any other source, and prior to the placement of fill, excavation of materials, or the storage of materials or equipment within the flood plain

View official code

Full Breakdown

Section 152.801 adopts Brooklyn Park's Flood Hazard Overlay by reference to the Flood Insurance Study for Hennepin County dated November 4, 2016, and 14 named Flood Insurance Rate Map panels, creating three overlay districts: Floodway, Flood Fringe, and General Flood Plain. These overlays sit on top of the underlying zoning district, and division (B)(2)(a) states that where the overlay and underlying zoning conflict, the more restrictive standard controls. Division (A) states the overlay's purpose as protecting environmentally sensitive areas, minimizing loss of life and property from periodic inundation, and maintaining the city's eligibility in the National Flood Insurance Program under 44 CFR Parts 59 through 78.

Division (C)(4)(a) requires a Zoning Administrator permit before erecting, adding to, rehabilitating, or altering any building or structure in the flood plain; before any change of use of a building, structure, or land; before constructing a dam, fence, or septic system; before extending a nonconforming use; before repairing flood, fire, or tornado damage; and before placing fill, excavating, or storing materials or equipment in the flood plain. Exceptions cover dog houses, non-habitable storage units under 36 square feet, movable household items like lawn furniture or a canoe, and normal landscaping, provided no fill enters the overlay. Watercourse alterations trigger a separate notice to the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources and, within six months of new data, to FEMA's Chicago Regional Office under divisions (C)(4)(b) and (c).

Violations & Fines

Building, filling, excavating, or changing the use of land in the Flood Hazard Overlay without the § 152.801 permit lets the City Manager immediately order construction halted until the permit is obtained and require the landowner to restore the land to its pre-violation condition, with each day of the violation a separate offense. Division (N) also lets the city ask the National Flood Insurance Program to deny flood insurance to the property, on top of the misdemeanor penalties under §§ 152.200 through 152.202 and § 152.310.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build in a Brooklyn Park flood plain?

Yes. Section 152.801(C)(4)(a) requires a Zoning Administrator permit before erecting, adding to, or altering any building or structure in the flood plain, before changing the use of land, and before placing fill or excavating, with narrow exceptions for items like dog houses and movable lawn furniture.

What flood plain districts does Brooklyn Park regulate?

The Flood Hazard Overlay under § 152.801 includes three districts: Floodway, Flood Fringe, and General Flood Plain, mapped using the Flood Insurance Study for Hennepin County dated November 4, 2016, and 14 named Flood Insurance Rate Map panels adopted by reference into the city code.

What happens if I build in the flood plain without a permit?

Under division (N) of § 152.801, the City Manager can immediately order construction halted until the required permit is obtained, require the land restored to its condition before the violation, and ask the National Flood Insurance Program to deny flood insurance to the property, with each day of the violation treated separately.

Sources & Official References

[1]Brooklyn Park, MN Code of Ordinances (American Legal)

Other rules in Brooklyn Park

Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Material RestrictionsHeavy Restrictions

All Brooklyn Park rules

Compare Brooklyn Park to another location·View the Minnesota environmental rules overview

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Flood Zones in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Hennepin County handle flood zones.

Minneapolis, MN