Kill Devil Hills, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Kill Devil Hills, NC, 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 in
- AE, AO, VE, Shaded X, X zones
- Flood maps from
- FEMA/NC FIS dated 6-19-2020, Dare County
- Issued by
- Floodplain Administrator (Planning Director)
- Application needs
- certified plot plan and elevations, § 151.41
- Appeal path
- variance procedure, § 151.44
- Penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor, up to $100/day
Summary
Any development in Kill Devil Hills' AE, AO, VE, Shaded X or X flood zones needs a floodplain development permit before work starts, under Town Code § 151.09. The zones come from the state-FEMA Cooperating Technical State flood study for Dare County dated June 19, 2020, adopted into the code under § 151.07.
The special flood hazard areas are those identified under the Cooperating Technical State (CTS) agreement between the State of North Carolina and FEMA in its FIS dated June 19, 2020 for Dare County and associated Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) panels, including any digital data developed as part of the FIS, which are adopted by reference and declared a part of this chapter and all revisions thereto after January 1, 2021. Future revisions to the FIS and DFIRM panels that do not change flood hazard data within the jurisdictional authority of the town are also adopted by reference and declared a part of this chapter. Subsequent letters of map revision (LOMRs) and/or physical map revisions (PMRs) shall be adopted within three months. ... A floodplain development permit shall be required in conformance with the provisions of this chapter prior to the commencement of any development activities in AE, AO, VE, Shaded X and X zone areas.
Full Breakdown
07 adopts the special flood hazard area maps for Kill Devil Hills from the Cooperating Technical State (CTS) agreement between North Carolina and FEMA, based on the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) dated June 19, 2020, for Dare County, along with the associated Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) panels; later letters of map revision or physical map revisions must be adopted into the code within three months. 09 then requires a floodplain development permit, issued by the Floodplain Administrator, the Planning Director or a designee, before any development activity begins in an AE, AO, VE, Shaded X or X zone area.
41 requires a certified plot plan showing the special flood hazard boundary, floodway or non-encroachment area boundaries, proposed elevations relative to NAVD 1988, and, for non-residential buildings, the elevation to which the structure will be floodproofed; the plan must be certified by a registered land surveyor or professional engineer. 44. 10.
Violations & Fines
Development without the required floodplain development permit, or in violation of the chapter's construction standards, is a Class 1 misdemeanor under § 151.99: a fine up to $100, up to 30 days in jail, with each day of the violation treated as a separate offense, in addition to any other lawful remedy the town pursues to correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which flood zones require a permit before you build in Kill Devil Hills?
Who issues the floodplain development permit?
What do I need to submit with the application?
What if my property can't meet the flood-zone standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kill Devil Hills
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