Harnett County, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

S. S. Chapter 160D, finding that flood-prone areas in the county face periodic inundation causing loss of life, property damage, and disruption of commerce, and adopts restrictions to keep dangerous uses out of erosion and flood hazard areas. 246 applies the subchapter to all special flood hazard areas identified under the Cooperating Technical State agreement between North Carolina and FEMA, using the county's Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps dated October 3, 2006, and expressly disclaims county liability for flood damages arising from reliance on the ordinance.

247 designates the Manager of Planning Services as the Floodplain Administrator. Within 21 calendar days of establishing the reference level elevation, the permit holder must submit an elevation certificate (FEMA Form 81-31) or floodproofing certificate (FEMA Form 81-65) prepared by a licensed surveyor or engineer; any work performed in that 21-day window is at the permit holder's risk, and failure to submit the certificate or correct deficiencies is cause for a stop-work order. A final as-built elevation certificate is required again after construction and before a certificate of compliance or occupancy is issued, with deficiencies corrected before that certificate is granted.

If nonresidential floodproofing is used instead of elevation, a floodproofing certificate is required before construction starts, sealed by a licensed engineer or architect, and failure to submit it is cause to deny the floodplain development permit outright.