FEMA flood zone rules in Lehigh County, PA β also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules β determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Lehigh County and all its municipalities participate in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) under the Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act (Act 166 of 1978, 32 P.S. Β§679.101 et seq.). The Lehigh River bisects the county and creates Special Flood Hazard Areas in Allentown, Catasauqua, Coplay, and surrounding municipalities. Pennsylvania regulations at 12 Pa. Code Chapter 113 require municipalities to adopt a FEMA-approved floodplain ordinance and require new residential structures in the SFHA to have the lowest floor elevated at least 1.5 feet above the base flood elevation.
Pennsylvania's Floodplain Management Act (Act 166 of 1978), codified at 32 P.S. Β§679.101 - 679.601, requires every municipality with FEMA-identified flood-prone areas to adopt and enforce a floodplain management ordinance. Implementation regulations are at 12 Pa. Code Chapter 113. Within Lehigh County, the Lehigh River, Jordan Creek, Little Lehigh Creek, Cedar Creek, and Trout Creek all generate FEMA-mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zones A, AE, and floodway) on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Each Lehigh County municipality enforces its own FEMA-approved floodplain ordinance that must meet the minimum requirements of 44 CFR Β§60.3 (federal NFIP standards) and 12 Pa. Code Chapter 113. Pennsylvania requires more stringent freeboard than the federal minimum: under 12 Pa. Code Β§113.3 and Act 166, the lowest floor (including basement) of a new or substantially improved residential structure in the SFHA must be elevated at least 1.5 feet above the base flood elevation - this exceeds the federal 0-foot freeboard minimum. Non-residential structures may be elevated or dry-floodproofed to the same 1.5-foot freeboard. The 'substantial improvement' rule applies when the cost of repair, reconstruction, or alteration over a 10-year period equals or exceeds 50% of the structure's pre-improvement market value (12 Pa. Code Β§113.3), triggering full code compliance. Floodway development that increases base flood elevations is prohibited. A floodplain development permit must be issued by the local floodplain administrator before any construction, fill, grading, or substantial improvement in the SFHA. FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) hosts the official FIRMs. Lehigh County's planning office and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) provide technical assistance.
Development in a Special Flood Hazard Area without a municipal floodplain permit violates the Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act (32 P.S. Β§679.401) and the local floodplain ordinance. Penalties include fines of up to $500 per day under 32 P.S. Β§679.601, mandatory removal or elevation of non-compliant structures, and loss of NFIP flood insurance eligibility. Federal sanctions under 44 CFR Β§60.3 can result in suspension of the entire municipality from the NFIP, making federally backed mortgages unavailable and eliminating eligibility for FEMA disaster assistance.
Lehigh County, PA
Lehigh County itself does not enforce a countywide quiet-hours ordinance - under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968, 53 P.S. Β§101...
Lehigh County, PA
Lehigh County does not regulate fence heights directly - under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968, 53 P.S. Β§10101 et seq.), fence...
Lehigh County, PA
Pennsylvania's statewide Dog Law (3 P.S. Β§459-101 et seq.) requires every dog to be 'confined' on the owner's premises, secured by leash or chain, or under r...
Lehigh County, PA
Pennsylvania Act 43 of 2017 (35 P.S. Β§1303 et seq.), as amended by Act 74 of 2022, legalized consumer fireworks (aerial and explosive devices) for residents ...
Lehigh County, PA
Lehigh County does not regulate STR parking. Under the PA Municipalities Planning Code, off-street parking minimums and on-street rules fall to each of the 2...
Lehigh County, PA
Lehigh County does not regulate STR occupancy. Under the PA Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968), zoning and occupancy authority sits with the 25 c...
See how Lehigh County's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.