Jefferson County, KY Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Louisville Metro's floodplain program under LMCO Chapter 157 — originally adopted in 1991, updated in 2017 and 2022 — applies throughout Jefferson County. MSD (Metropolitan Sewer District) administers the program, issues floodplain permits, maintains Flood Insurance Rate Maps, and enforces floodplain regulations. Jefferson County participates in the NFIP and FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), providing residents with reduced flood insurance rates. A critical local feature: MSD's Local Regulatory Floodplain (LRF) is often wider than FEMA's Special Flood Hazard Area because it accounts for fully developed watershed conditions. Properties outside the FEMA flood zone but inside the LRF are still subject to building restrictions. Jefferson County's Ohio River corridor, interior streams, and combined sewer system all contribute to flood risk. In 1994, Jefferson County became the first community nationwide to develop its own flood insurance rate maps under the federal NFIP program. All development — new construction, additions, and major renovations — within the LRF requires a floodplain permit from MSD's floodplain permit office (502-587-0603).