Coeur d'Alene, ID Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Coeur d'Alene, ID, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Permit
- Floodplain development permit before any development in a special flood hazard area
- Administrator
- The city engineer
- Flood maps
- FEMA study for Kootenai County dated May 3, 2010
- Enclosure openings
- Two openings, one square inch net area per square foot enclosed
- Permit life
- Later of building permit expiry or 180 days
- Substantial improvement
- Cost at or above 50% of structure market value
- Appeal deadline
- 14 days to the city clerk
Summary
In the City of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, any development inside a FEMA special flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit from the floodplain administrator, who is the city engineer. A new or substantially improved home must put its lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the flood protection elevation, and any enclosed area below that floor needs engineered or prescribed flood openings.
Where base flood elevation data are available, new construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure or manufactured home must have the lowest floor, including basement, constructed at or above the flood protection elevation. All new construction or substantial improvements of an existing residential structure that includes a fully enclosed area located below the lowest floor formed by the foundation and other exterior walls must be designed to be an unfinished or flood resistant enclosure. The enclosure must be designed to equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the automatic entry and exit of floodwater. Designs for complying with this requirement must be certified by a licensed professional engineer or architect or meet the following minimum criteria: A. Provide a minimum of two (2) openings meeting the following criteria: 1. A total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding; 2. The bottom of all openings can be no higher than one foot (1') above the higher of the exterior or interior grade or floor immediately below the opening;
Full Breakdown
Chapter 15.32 applies to every special flood hazard area in the City of Coeur d'Alene. The maps are the FEMA flood insurance study for Kootenai County, Idaho, and incorporated areas dated May 3, 2010, with its flood insurance rate maps, kept on file at the city clerk's office at 710 E. Mullan Avenue (§§ 15.32.030, 15.32.050). The city engineer serves as floodplain administrator and can assign duties to another city employee (§ 15.32.070). Before any development activity in a flood hazard area, the owner files a floodplain development permit application on the administrator's form with the review and processing fee (§§ 15.32.090, 15.32.100). The application needs scaled plans showing elevations, structures, fill, stored materials, and drainage, the lowest floor elevation including crawl spaces or basements, and engineer or architect certification for any floodproofed nonresidential structure. Once the lowest floor or floodproofing is complete, the permit holder submits an as-built certification on the FEMA elevation or floodproofing certificate. The permit expires with the associated building or site development permit or 180 days after issuance, whichever is later.
The residential rule in § 15.32.130 puts the lowest floor at or above the flood protection elevation and requires a minimum of two openings in any enclosure below it. That enclosure can hold only parked vehicles, limited storage of maintenance equipment, or the entry to the elevated area, and it cannot be partitioned or finished into separate rooms. Below grade crawl spaces are prohibited where floodwater velocity exceeds five feet (5') per second, the crawl space interior grade cannot sit more than two feet (2') below the lowest adjacent exterior grade, and the crawl space height cannot exceed four feet (4') at any point. A nonresidential building that is not elevated must be floodproofed watertight to the flood protection elevation or one foot (1') above the base flood elevation, whichever is higher (§ 15.32.140). Where no regulatory floodway is designated, fill and construction in zones A1-30 and AE need proof that the cumulative effect will not increase the base flood water surface elevation (§ 15.32.120(H)).
Violations & Fines
Violating the chapter, or any condition or safeguard attached to a variance, is a misdemeanor punishable under Title 1, Chapter 1.28 of the Coeur d'Alene Municipal Code (§ 15.32.220). Failing to submit an elevation or floodproofing certificate, or failing to correct a deficient one, gives the floodplain administrator cause to issue a stop work order (§ 15.32.100). The City also keeps the power to take any other lawful action it deems necessary to prevent or remedy a violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues the floodplain development permit in Coeur d'Alene?
What counts as a substantial improvement?
Can I get a variance from the elevation requirement?
How long do I have to appeal a permit denial?
Does a small shed in a flood zone have to be elevated?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Coeur d'Alene
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