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Franklin Township, PA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in Franklin Township, PA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Governing section: § 27-1302, Subsection 2
Permit required from: Floodplain Administrator (Township Zoning Officer)
Authorizing statute: PA Flood Plain Management Act of 1978
FIRM/FIS date: September 29, 2017
Adopting ordinance: Ordinance 2017-05
Appeal path: Zoning Hearing Board

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 Franklin Township, PA.

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 Franklin Township, PA on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

In Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, the Board of Supervisors adopted its Flood Hazard District under the Pennsylvania Flood Plain Management Act of 1978. Code § 27-1302 makes it unlawful to undertake any construction or development inside the Flood Hazard District without first obtaining a permit from the Township's Floodplain Administrator.

§ 27-1301. Statutory Authorization. ... The Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has, by the passage of the Pennsylvania Flood Plain Management Act of 1978, ... delegated the responsibility to local governmental units to adopt floodplain management regulations to promote public health, safety, and the general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Franklin does hereby order as follows. ... ... § 27-1302. General Provisions. ... ... 2. Applicability. It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, any construction or development anywhere within the Flood Hazard District as defined by the Township of Franklin unless a permit has been obtained from the Floodplain Administrator.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Franklin Township re-adopted its Flood Hazard District (FH) regulations in 2017 under Ordinance 2017-05, repealing and replacing the prior Part 13. Section 27-1301, Statutory Authorization, traces the Township's authority to the Pennsylvania Flood Plain Management Act of 1978, under which the Board of Supervisors 'does hereby order' the floodplain rules that follow. Section 27-1302's Applicability clause is the operative permit trigger: it is unlawful for any person, partnership, business, or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, any construction or development anywhere within the Flood Hazard District unless a permit has been obtained from the Floodplain Administrator.

The Township Zoning Officer serves as Floodplain Administrator by default under § 27-1303, reviewing every application against the Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps dated September 29, 2017, and any more current FEMA revision, plus any locally identified flood hazard area. Before issuing a permit, the Administrator must confirm other state approvals are in hand, including permits under the Pennsylvania Dam Safety and Encroachments Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Act, and Section 404 permits under the federal Clean Water Act. The Part expressly supersedes any conflicting Township ordinance provision but yields to any Township rule that is more restrictive. Disputes over where the floodplain boundary actually falls go first to the Floodplain Administrator, with an appeal available to the Zoning Hearing Board, and the appellant carries the burden of proof.

Violations & Fines

Building or developing inside the Flood Hazard District without a permit from the Floodplain Administrator violates §§ 27-1302 and 27-1303. The Floodplain Administrator can inspect work in progress, revoke a noncompliant permit, and report the case to the Board of Supervisors. Because Part 13 sits inside the zoning chapter, an unpermitted floodplain project is also subject to the Code's general zoning enforcement in § 27-2304, a civil judgment of up to $500 plus court costs per day before a Magisterial District Judge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build in Franklin Township's floodplain?

Yes. Section 27-1302 makes it unlawful to undertake any construction or development anywhere within the Flood Hazard District without first obtaining a permit from the Floodplain Administrator, who is the Township Zoning Officer unless the Board designates someone else.

What maps define the Flood Hazard District?

The district follows FEMA's Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps dated September 29, 2017, or the most current FEMA revision, plus any area the Township has separately identified as a local flood hazard under § 27-1304.

What other approvals does the Floodplain Administrator check for?

Before issuing a floodplain permit, the Administrator confirms the applicant has obtained any required state approvals, such as those under the Pennsylvania Dam Safety and Encroachments Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Act, and any federal Clean Water Act Section 404 permit.

Where do I appeal a floodplain boundary dispute?

The Floodplain Administrator makes the initial determination under § 27-1304, Subsection 4, and any party aggrieved by that call may appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board, which places the burden of proving the error on the appellant, not the Township.

Sources & Official References

[1]eCode360 - Code of Ordinances of the Township of Franklin, Chester County, PA

Other rules in Franklin Township

Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSignificant Restrictions Landscaping Rules: Native PlantsFew Restrictions

All Franklin Township rules

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