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Kennewick, WA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in Kennewick, WA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Permit required: Floodprone Area Development Permit
Issuing agency: Kennewick Planning Director
Flood maps used: FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps
Violation penalty: Misdemeanor under KMC 18.66.030

FEMA Flood Zone Lookup

FEMA assigns every parcel in the U.S. a flood-hazard designation on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Zones starting with A or V are high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas where federally backed mortgages require NFIP flood insurance. Zone X indicates moderate-to-minimal risk, where insurance is optional but often recommended. Your specific zone determines insurance cost, build elevation, and permit requirements in Kennewick, WA.

Zone	What it means	NFIP required?
A	High-risk flood area; 1% annual chance flood, no detailed analysis.	Yes
AE	High-risk; same as A but with established Base Flood Elevations.	Yes
AH	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft), usually ponding.	Yes
AO	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft) with sheet flow on sloping terrain.	Yes
V	High-risk coastal zone subject to wave action (no BFE).	Yes
VE	High-risk coastal zone with wave action and established BFEs.	Yes
X (shaded)	Moderate risk; between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood.	Recommended
X	Minimal risk; outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.	No

Look up Kennewick, WA on the FEMA flood map

FEMA maps update periodically; verify zone before buying flood insurance or building.

Summary

Before any construction or land-disturbing development begins within a Kennewick area of special flood hazard, KMC 18.66.040 requires a Floodprone Area Development Permit from the Planning Department covering structures, manufactured homes, and fill.

A Floodprone Area Development Permit must be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 18.66.030(2). The permit will be for all structures, including manufactured homes, as set forth in Section 18.66.020 and all other development including filling and other activities, also as set forth in Section 18.66.020.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Kennewick's flood damage prevention chapter, KMC 18.66, applies as an overlay zone to all areas of special flood hazard identified on FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the City. Per KMC 18.66.040(1), no excavation, filling, grading, or construction of a structure -- including manufactured homes -- may begin within a mapped flood hazard area without first obtaining a Floodprone Area Development Permit from the Planning Director. The Director reviews applications for compliance with the elevation, floodproofing, and floodway-encroachment standards in KMC 18.66.060, and failure to comply is a misdemeanor under KMC 18.66.030(3).

Violations & Fines

Building, filling, or grading in a mapped flood hazard area without a Floodprone Area Development Permit is a misdemeanor under KMC 18.66.030(3), and the City can require the structure vacated or removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build in a Kennewick flood hazard area?

Yes. KMC 18.66.040(1) requires a Floodprone Area Development Permit before any construction, filling, or grading begins in a designated area of special flood hazard.

What maps define Kennewick's flood hazard areas?

The City uses the FEMA Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Kennewick, adopted by reference in KMC 18.66.030(2), shown on the City's zoning map.

Sources & Official References

[1]Kennewick Municipal Code § 18.66.040(1)

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