FEMA flood zone rules in De Pere, WI — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
The City of De Pere participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and regulates floodplain development in conformance with Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 116, plus 44 CFR Parts 59-72. The Fox River is the principal regulated waterway through the city. The currently effective FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Brown County, which include De Pere, were adopted by the Brown County Board of Supervisors on February 15, 2023 and became effective on May 9, 2023. Development in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas requires zoning approval, and new residential structures in the regulatory floodway are prohibited under NR 116.
Wisconsin requires every municipality with mapped floodplain or that participates in the NFIP to adopt a floodplain zoning ordinance meeting the minimum standards of Chapter NR 116 (Wis. Admin. Code) and 44 CFR Parts 59-72, under the authority of Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30. The City of De Pere, located in Brown County along the Fox River, administers floodplain zoning within its corporate limits and participates in the NFIP. The currently effective FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps covering Brown County and De Pere were adopted by the Brown County Board of Supervisors on February 15, 2023 and became effective on May 9, 2023; these maps replaced the prior FIRM panels. Under NR 116 standards, the regulatory floodway prohibits new residential structures and most fill, while the flood fringe allows development if the lowest floor of any habitable space is elevated to or above the flood protection elevation (regional flood elevation plus a freeboard, typically 2 feet under NR 116.13). Floodplain permits are issued by the local zoning administrator, with Wisconsin DNR oversight, before any building permit may be issued. Authoritative maps are available from FEMA's Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov), the National Flood Hazard Layer, and the Wisconsin DNR Floodplain Mapping program. Brown County's Planning and Land Services department also publishes the Flood Insurance Study volumes that accompany the May 9, 2023 effective FIRMs.
Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30(2) and NR 116.21 require enforcement of local floodplain zoning. Violations - including fill, structural development, or occupancy of habitable space in the floodway, or building below the flood protection elevation in the flood fringe - can result in citation, daily forfeitures, removal/restoration orders, and potential loss of NFIP eligibility for the property. Misrepresenting elevation data on a permit application is independently actionable. A community's failure to enforce can lead to suspension from the NFIP under 44 CFR Part 59.
De Pere, WI
De Pere regulates amplified music under the general noise ordinance. Sound amplification permits available for events. WI Stat. §947.01 applies.
De Pere, WI
De Pere considers excessive barking a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. WI Stat. §174 covers dog regulation statewide.
De Pere, WI
De Pere enforces quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM. The Fox River downtown area has entertainment venues that follow sound level limits. St. Norbert College cam...
De Pere, WI
De Pere enforces street parking restrictions locally. Winter alternate-side parking critical. No statewide consecutive parking limit. WI Stat. §346.503 applies.
De Pere, WI
De Pere restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight, size, and signage limits apply. Overnight heavy truck storage prohibited.
De Pere, WI
De Pere requires vehicles parked on improved surfaces. Front lawn parking prohibited. Driveway modifications require permits.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Brown County.
See how other cities in Brown County handle flood zones.
See how De Pere's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.