Fullerton, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

015 implements the National Flood Insurance Program locally. It adopts by reference the areas of special flood hazard identified in the Flood Insurance Study for Orange County, California and Incorporated Areas, dated December 3, 2009, along with the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps and all later amendments, on file with the city's Public Works Department/Engineering Division at 303 West Commonwealth Avenue and at the FEMA Map Services Center. Division (A)(9)(c) states that a permit shall be obtained before proceeding with any construction or development within any area of special flood hazard established under the section, and division (A)(9)(b) extends that scope to all building permits and other permits for work performed inside a mapped flood hazard area, not construction alone.

The City Engineer administers the program and coordinates with the Building Official to enforce the flood provisions of the building code; duties spelled out in division (C) include reviewing every permit request for compliance with National Flood Insurance Program goals, obtaining and using the best available base flood elevation data for Zone A projects, and ensuring no building permit is issued off a conditional letter of map amendment or revision. Violating the section, including violating any condition or safeguard attached to a flood-area permit, is expressly declared a misdemeanor under division (A)(4), and the ordinance does not intend to weaken any stricter provision found elsewhere in the zoning code, subdivision regulations or building code: division (A)(5) directs that whichever rule is more restrictive controls when there is a conflict.