Gardena, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Chapter 15.50 (Ord. 1546, 1998) applies to all areas of special flood hazard within Gardena's jurisdiction (§ 15.50.050), defined using the Federal Insurance Administration's Flood Insurance Study dated July 6, 1998 and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Map, plus later amendments (§ 15.50.060). No structure or land may be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered inside those areas without full compliance with the chapter, and violating any requirement or condition is a misdemeanor; the city council may separately take lawful action to remedy a violation (§ 15.50.070).

Before any construction or development starts, an applicant must obtain a development permit from the floodplain administrator, with an application showing the proposed elevation of the lowest floor relative to mean sea level, any proposed floodproofing elevation for nonresidential structures, required certifications, and a description of any watercourse alteration or relocation (§ 15.50.110). The Community Development Director serves as floodplain administrator (§ 15.50.120) and reviews permits to confirm the chapter's requirements are satisfied, other state and federal permits are obtained, the site is reasonably safe from flooding, and the project will not raise the base flood water surface more than one foot at any point (§ 15.50.130A).

Rulings by the floodplain administrator may be appealed to the Gardena City Council (§ 15.50.140), and the chapter's protections are treated as minimum requirements that do not limit any other state-law authority (§ 15.50.090).