FEMA flood zone rules in Fairfax, VA — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
The City of Fairfax participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and enforces floodplain regulations under FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Properties along Accotink Creek and Daniels Run are the primary flood-prone areas. New construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas requires elevation to or above the Base Flood Elevation plus freeboard.
The City of Fairfax participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and enforces floodplain regulations through its Zoning Ordinance floodplain overlay district, which implements 44 CFR 60.3 federal minimums and Virginia Code §15.2-2280 floodplain authority. FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) identify Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) along Accotink Creek, Daniels Run, and their tributaries. These are the 1-percent annual chance (100-year) floodplains. New construction or substantial improvements within the SFHA must have lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation plus a freeboard requirement, typically 2 feet in Virginia. Fill placement in the floodway is prohibited. Substantial improvement is defined as any reconstruction, rehabilitation, or addition with cost equal to or exceeding 50 percent of the market value of the structure before improvement, triggering full floodplain compliance. Elevation certificates are required for new construction in SFHA. Federally backed mortgages on properties in SFHA require flood insurance. The City adopts the Virginia model floodplain ordinance and updates to match FEMA map revisions. Violations can result in the property being declared non-compliant, affecting insurance and resale. Properties in Accotink Creek floodplain have experienced significant flooding in major storms.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Fairfax County.
See how other cities in Fairfax County handle flood zones.
See how Fairfax's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
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