FEMA flood zone rules in Grass Valley, CA — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Nevada County is a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program. Construction, fill, or placement of structures within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area requires a use permit, and zoning establishes a 100-foot non-disturbance buffer measured from the boundary of the floodplain. FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps for most of the County were updated February 3, 2010.
The County's floodplain regulations implement 44 CFR 60.3 NFIP minimum standards. Within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) - Zones A, AE, AO, AH - new structures must have the lowest floor elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus any locally required freeboard, and substantial improvements (>50% of structure value) trigger full SFHA compliance. Constructing fill, levees, or new structures within an SFHA requires a use permit from the Community Development Agency, and zoning establishes a 100-foot non-disturbance buffer from the boundary of the floodplain to protect riparian function. The Sierra foothill streams - Deer Creek, Wolf Creek, Bear River, South Yuba River, Truckee River - drive most of the County's SFHA mapping. Truckee-area properties also fall under the Town of Truckee Floodplain Management Ordinance. FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps for most of the County were updated effective February 3, 2010; map revisions and LOMA/LOMR processes are administered locally through Planning.
Building within an SFHA without an elevation certificate or required permit can trigger a Stop Work Order, NFIP enforcement, and removal of the County from the NFIP if violations are not corrected. Lenders generally require flood insurance for federally backed loans on SFHA properties.
Nevada County, CA
Nevada County Code Title 8 (Animal Regulation) makes it unlawful for an owner to allow a dog or other animal to disturb the peace by habitual barking, howlin...
Nevada County, CA
Unincorporated Nevada County applies a tiered exterior noise standard set in Land Use & Development Code Section L-II 4.1.7. At residential receivers the day...
Nevada County, CA
RVs, travel trailers, and boats may be stored on a residential parcel in unincorporated Nevada County, but full-time occupancy of an RV as a dwelling is proh...
Grass Valley, CA
Grass Valley's parking rules are in Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the Municipal Code — Chapter 10.32 (Stopping, Standing and Parking) and Chapter 10.48 ...
Nevada County, CA
Beekeeping is broadly allowed in unincorporated Nevada County. Hobbyist apiaries with fewer than 10 hives pay no County registration fee (Board Resolution 93...
Nevada County, CA
Section L-II 3.4 of the Land Use & Development Code allows backyard chickens (hens only, no roosters) in the R1 and RA zoning districts. Hen counts range fro...
See how Grass Valley's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.