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Contra Costa County, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

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

Verified 1 month ago|Source: FEMA Flood Map Service Center →

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Key Facts

Governing ordinance: CCC Ord. Chapter 914-14
NFIP participation: Active — required for flood insurance
Key flood areas: Bethel Island, Bay Point, Rodeo, delta shoreline

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 Contra Costa County, CA.

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 Contra Costa County, CA on the FEMA flood map

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

City-specific rules exist: Pittsburg, Richmond, Concord, Brentwood, Martinez, Oakley, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, and Antioch have their own flood zones rules that differ from Contra Costa County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Summary

Unincorporated Contra Costa County regulates floodplain development under Ordinance Code Chapter 914-14 to maintain FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) participation. Significant AE flood zones affect Bethel Island, Bay Point, Rodeo, and delta shoreline areas.

Full Breakdown

Contra Costa County participates in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and enforces floodplain management standards through Ordinance Code Chapter 914-14 (Flood Hazard Reduction). Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) mapped as Zone AE, A, and VE appear on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) with significant extent along the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen), Suisun Bay shoreline (Bay Point, Pittsburg, Martinez), San Pablo Bay (Rodeo, Crockett), and along creeks throughout the County (Walnut Creek, Marsh Creek, San Pablo Creek, Pinole Creek). New construction and substantial improvements (repairs or additions costing 50 percent or more of pre-improvement market value) within the SFHA must have the lowest floor elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) shown on FIRMs. Non-residential structures may alternatively be dry-floodproofed. Bethel Island has particularly complex levee-protected floodplain issues. All development in the floodplain requires a floodplain development permit. FEMA CRS (Community Rating System) discounts may apply to flood insurance premiums. Elevation certificates are required. Properties near levees are increasingly scrutinized following Hurricane Katrina and central-valley levee standards. Mortgage lenders require flood insurance for federally backed loans in SFHAs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my property in a FEMA flood zone?

Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) or the CCC online zoning/GIS viewer. Significant zones exist at Bethel Island, Bay Point, and along creeks. If in Zone AE/A/VE, elevation and flood insurance apply.

Do I need flood insurance?

If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area and you have a federally backed mortgage, flood insurance is required. Even outside SFHAs, coverage is recommended — roughly 25 percent of NFIP claims come from outside mapped zones.

Contra Costa County, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

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