Does Champaign County, IL have its own flood zones ordinance?

No. Champaign County, IL does not appear to have a local flood zones ordinance, Illinois state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from Illinois Compiled Statutes.

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Champaign County

Champaign County, IL Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

SFHA zones: Elevate to base flood
State permit: IDNR floodway permit
Rule: Ill. Admin. Code Part 3700
Local hotspot: Boneyard Creek flooding
Insurance: Required in flood zones

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 Champaign County, IL.

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 Champaign County, IL on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

Champaign County and its cities enforce NFIP floodplain rules, and Illinois DNR requires a permit for construction in a regulated floodway. Boneyard Creek's flood history drove major flood-control work at the University of Illinois.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Champaign County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Construction in the floodway of any stream serving a tributary area of 640 acres or more in an urban area, or in the floodway of any stream serving a tributary area of 6,400 acres or more in a rural area, is subject to this Part and requires a permit from the Department.

Source: Illinois Compiled StatutesView official code

Full Breakdown

Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, and unincorporated Champaign County take part in the National Flood Insurance Program, so buildings in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area must be elevated to or above the base flood elevation, and federally backed mortgages there require flood insurance. Separately, Illinois Administrative Code Part 3700 requires an IDNR Office of Water Resources permit for construction in the floodway of larger streams. Boneyard Creek, which floods the University of Illinois campus and Campustown, has been the focus of a decades-long flood-control program. Fill and structures in the regulatory floodway are tightly restricted.

Violations & Fines

Building below base flood elevation, or placing fill and structures in a regulated floodway without the required permits, brings stop-work orders, removal and restoration orders, and retroactive compliance costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my property in a flood zone?

Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center or contact the Champaign, Urbana, or Champaign County planning office. Maps are updated periodically and your zone may have changed.

Do I need a state permit to build near a creek?

If the work is in a regulated floodway, yes. Part 3700 requires an IDNR Office of Water Resources permit before construction on qualifying streams.

Sources & Official References

[1]Illinois Compiled Statutes

Other rules in Champaign County

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Champaign County rules

Compare Champaign County to another location·View the Illinois environmental rules overview

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