Georgetown, TX Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Sec. 030 applies the chapter to all special flood hazard areas within Georgetown's jurisdiction, and Sec. 040 adopts by reference the FEMA Flood Insurance Study for Williamson County, Texas and Incorporated Areas, dated September 28, 1990, together with the accompanying FIRM and flood boundary-floodway maps dated September 26, 2008 and any later revisions, as the basis for identifying those areas. Sec. 050 requires a development permit for any activity in these zones, and Sec. 060 bars locating, altering, or changing the use of any structure or land without full compliance.

Floodway areas carry the strictest control: Sec. 190 prohibits encroachments, including fill, new construction, and substantial improvements, within the adopted regulatory floodway unless hydrologic and hydraulic analysis demonstrates no increase in flood levels during the base flood discharge. Subdivision proposals larger than ten lots or two acres, whichever is smaller, must generate their own base flood elevation data under Sec. 170 if none already exists. The Floodplain Administrator, the Director/Building Official of Inspection Services under Sec. 110, reviews permit applications against ten factors listed in Sec.

130, including danger to life and property, access for emergency vehicles during flooding, and consistency with the comprehensive plan or Unified Development Code. Variances from these zone requirements go to the Planning and Zoning Commission, sitting as the Appeal Board under Sec. 140, but the board cannot grant a variance within a designated floodway if it would raise flood levels during the base flood discharge.