FEMA flood zone rules in Harford County, MD — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Maryland requires a state permit to change the course or cross section of any nontidal stream or floodplain in Harford County. Every FEMA flood zone is also governed by the county's NFIP floodplain ordinance, which sets minimum elevation for new building.
Two layers govern flood-zone building in Harford County. Under Md. Code, Environment §5-503, a person must obtain a permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment to construct in or change the course, current, or cross section of any nontidal stream or body of water, which reaches Deer Creek, Winters Run, and the floodplains of the Bush and Gunpowder Rivers. Layered on top, Harford County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and enforces a floodplain management ordinance covering the FEMA-mapped A and coastal zones around Havre de Grace, Edgewood, and Joppatowne. New and substantially improved structures must have their lowest floor elevated above the base flood elevation, with freeboard, and fill or obstruction of the floodway is barred.
Building or filling in a regulated waterway or floodplain without the MDE permit or county floodplain approval violates state law and the NFIP ordinance, bringing stop-work orders, penalties, forced removal, and loss of flood-insurance eligibility.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Harford County, MD
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See how Harford County's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
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