FEMA flood zone rules in Butte County, CA — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Butte County's floodplain regulations are in Code Chapter 26 (Buildings), Article IV (Flood Hazard Prevention). The county has participated in the regular phase of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) since September 29, 1989, and enforces FEMA minimum standards plus a CEQA review trigger in §26-22.1.
Chapter 26 Article IV implements the NFIP for unincorporated Butte County. All development in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) — Zones A, AE, AH, AO, and AR on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map — requires a floodplain development permit before any construction, substantial improvement, or grading. New residential buildings must have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE); non-residential buildings may be elevated or dry-floodproofed to BFE. Substantial improvements (cumulative work valued at 50% or more of the structure's pre-improvement market value) trigger full compliance with current standards. Section 26-22.1 requires CEQA review for floodplain permits. FEMA released updated preliminary flood maps for Butte County and the City of Chico, with a 90-day appeal period running December 3, 2025 to March 3, 2026.
Development in the SFHA without a floodplain permit is a code violation subject to stop-work orders and abatement; uncorrected violations can also lead to NFIP probation/suspension of the entire county, eliminating federally backed flood insurance. Substantial-damage determinations after a flood require the property to be brought into compliance before re-occupancy.
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