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

Chapter 16, Flood Damage Prevention, adopted by the Board of Commissioners on January 18, 2022, applies to every Special Flood Hazard Area mapped within the unincorporated parts of Cabarrus County; Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg and Mount Pleasant enforce their own separate flood ordinances. Part 3, Section C establishes that a Floodplain Development Permit is required before any development activity starts, and Part 3, Section B ties that requirement to the FEMA Flood Insurance Study dated November 5, 2008, plus DFIRM panels updated through November 16, 2018.

To apply, Part 4, Section B requires a scaled plot plan showing the nature, location, dimensions and elevations of the disturbance area, the Special Flood Hazard Area boundary and flood zone designation from the FIRM, the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation for the reference level and all attendant utilities, and certification submittal timelines. The Zoning Administrator serves as the Floodplain Administrator who reviews and issues the permit. A property owner denied a permit, or seeking relief from a standard, can request a variance from the Board of Adjustment under Part 4, Section E, and may appeal that board's decision to the General Court of Justice under Chapter 7A of the North Carolina General Statutes.

Part 3, Section E makes clear that wherever this ordinance and another regulation conflict, whichever imposes the more stringent restriction controls, and Part 3, Section G disclaims county liability for flood damage even where a permit was properly issued and followed.