Lehigh County, PA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Lehigh County, PA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- New structures in 100-year flood plain
- prohibited, Section 492.22
- Exception
- substantial improvement in floodway fringe, § 492.23
- Deed restrictions
- LVPC may require, § 492.24
- Applies only in
- municipalities without own SALDO
- Maximum fine
- $500 per day per violation
Summary
Lehigh County's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance bans placing new buildings or structures inside the 100-year flood plain on covered sites, with a narrow exception for substantially improving an existing building or redeveloping a formerly developed lot in the floodway fringe. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission can also require recorded deed restrictions on floodplain land.
492.22 No new buildings or structures shall be placed within the bounds of the 100-year flood plain except as Section 492.23 provides. 492.23 The substantial improvement of an existing building or the redevelopment of a vacant but formerly developed parcel is permissible within the floodway fringe if said development is in accordance with the flood plain provisions of the borough zoning ordinance if one has been enacted or with the borough flood plain ordinance. 492.24 When a developer does not intend to develop the plat himself and the LVPC determines that additional controls are required to insure ensure safe development, it may require the developer to impose appropriate deed restrictions on the land. Such deed restrictions shall be inserted in every deed and noted on every recorded plat.
Full Breakdown
23. That exception allows the substantial improvement of an existing building, or redevelopment of a vacant but formerly developed parcel, within the floodway fringe if the work conforms to the flood plain provisions of the applicable borough zoning ordinance, if one has been enacted, or the borough's own flood plain ordinance. 24 gives the LVPC authority to require deed restrictions when a developer will not personally build out the approved plat and the Commission decides additional controls are needed for safe development; those restrictions must be written into every deed and noted on every recorded plat covering the land.
1 limits this reach to municipalities within the county that have not adopted their own subdivision and land development ordinance. Because most Lehigh Valley municipalities administer their own floodplain overlays under their individual zoning codes, and FEMA flood maps and floodplain management ordinances are adopted separately at the municipal level in nearly every case, a property owner should verify with the township or borough building or zoning office which set of floodplain rules actually governs a specific parcel before relying on the county's text.
Violations & Fines
Section 621 makes any violation of the SALDO's floodplain provisions punishable by a fine of up to $500 per day per violation plus court costs and County legal expenses. Once the LVPC or the Lehigh County Solicitor gives written notice of a violation, the owner or builder has five days to start correcting it and thirty days to finish; a continuing violation after those windows becomes a new offense each day, and the County Solicitor can sue for collection before a magistrate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a new structure in a 100-year flood plain in Lehigh County?
Does this county rule apply everywhere in Lehigh County?
Can the county require deed restrictions on floodplain land?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lehigh County
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