Guilford County, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Under UDO Subsec. S. Chapter 143, Article 21, Part 6, a Floodplain Development Permit from the county's Floodplain Administrator is required before any development activity begins within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), as mapped on FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Guilford County. Sec. G bars locating, extending, converting, altering, or developing any structure or land without full compliance. Applicants submit a scaled plot plan showing the development's location and elevation, the SFHA and floodway boundaries, and flood zone designations to the Floodplain Administrator, who reviews under the county's standard development review procedures with the Administrator substituting for the Planning Director on these applications.

Sec. a requires new construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure, including manufactured homes, to have its reference level, including any basement, elevated no lower than the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation (RFPE). The code defines RFPE as the Base Flood Elevation plus 2 feet of freeboard where BFE data exists, or at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade where no BFE has been set. Non-residential structures may floodproof to the RFPE instead of elevating, but a registered engineer or architect must certify the floodproofing meets the standard.

Fill is generally prohibited in the SFHA, including building on fill, with narrow exceptions for minor fill restoring natural floodplain function. Bona fide farms get no exemption from these floodway and floodplain development standards.