Indio, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Indio, CA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Indio Municipal Code § 153.12
- Who administers
- Floodplain Administrator
- Applies to
- Any development in special flood hazard areas
- Adopting ordinance
- Ord. 1537 (June 9, 2008)
Summary
Any construction or development, including manufactured homes, within an Indio special flood hazard area requires a development permit from the Floodplain Administrator before work begins, under Municipal Code § 153.12.
A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in § 153.07. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the Flood Plain Administrator. The applicant shall provide the following minimum information:
(A) Plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing:
(1) Location, dimensions, and elevation of the area in question, existing or proposed structures, storage of materials and equipment and their location;
(2) Proposed locations of water supply, sanitary sewer, and other utilities;
(3) Grading information showing existing and proposed contours, any proposed fill, and drainage facilities;
(4) Location of the regulatory floodway when applicable;
(5) Base flood elevation information as specified in § 153.07 or § 153.31(C);
(6) Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures; and
(7) Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed, as required in § 153.13(C)(2) of this chapter and detailed in FEMA Technical Bulletin TB 3-93.
(B) Certification from a registered civil engineer or architect that the nonresidential floodproofed building meets the floodproofing criteria in § 153.13(C)(2).
(C)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4796010; v13 updated 2026-02-04; through 02-04-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 153, adopted by Ord. 1537 under the state's Gov. Code §§ 65302, 65560 and 65800 authority, requires a development permit for any construction or other development in an area of special flood hazard mapped under § 153.07. Applicants must submit scaled plans showing structure location, elevation and grading, proposed utility locations, floodway location where applicable, base flood elevation data, and the proposed lowest-floor elevation; nonresidential floodproofing requires a registered engineer's or architect's certification. The permit feeds into the construction standards of § 153.13, which require flood-resistant materials, proper anchoring, and elevation of the lowest floor to or above the base flood elevation.
Violations & Fines
Building in a special flood hazard area without a § 153.12 development permit is a chapter violation; it also jeopardizes the city's National Flood Insurance Program standing, which can raise flood insurance costs for the whole community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build in an Indio flood hazard area?
What must I submit with an Indio floodplain development permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Indio
California rules heatmap·Compare Indio to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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Flood Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle flood zones.