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Kitsap County, 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 Kitsap County, 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 trigger: Any construction/development in mapped flood hazard area
Residential elevation (AE/A1-30): 1 foot above base flood elevation
Unnumbered A zone elevation: 2 feet above highest adjacent grade
RV stay without full compliance: Under 180 consecutive days
Maximum penalty: $500 per day, Class I civil infraction
Permitting agency: Dept. of Community Development, Port Orchard
Jurisdiction reach: Unincorporated Kitsap County only

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 Kitsap County, 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 Kitsap County, WA on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

In unincorporated Kitsap County, no one may build, fill, or alter land in a mapped special flood hazard area without a development permit from the Department of Community Development. New residential structures must sit at least one foot above the base flood elevation, and violations draw a $500-a-day civil infraction under Kitsap County Code Title 15.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Kitsap County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.04.040. The permit shall be for all structures including manufactured homes, as set forth in Chapter 15.08... Specifically, the following information is required: A. Elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures; B. Elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any structure has been floodproofed; C. Certification by a registered professional engineer or architect that the floodproofing methods for any nonresidential structure meet the floodproofing criteria in Section 15.12.100; ... E. A V-zone design certificate (where a structure is proposed in a V, V1-30, or VE zone); F. An engineering analysis indicating no rise of the base flood elevation (where development is proposed in a floodway)...

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4864424; v0 updated 2025-12-08; through 12-08-2025).

Full Breakdown

040, covering all structures including manufactured homes. Applicants must submit plans showing elevations in relation to mean sea level for the lowest floor of every structure, elevation to which any structure is floodproofed, engineer certification of floodproofing for nonresidential buildings, a description of any watercourse alteration, a V-zone design certificate for V, V1-30 or VE zones, and a no-rise engineering analysis for floodway development. 090, new or substantially improved residential structures in AE and A1-30 zones must have the lowest floor, including basement, at least one foot above the base flood elevation (BFE), with mechanical equipment and utilities waterproofed or elevated to the same height; where no BFE is available in an unnumbered A zone, the lowest floor must sit at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade.

100 must either elevate one foot above BFE or be dry-floodproofed watertight to that height, certified by a registered engineer or architect. 110. 055. 130 bars fill for structural support and requires breakaway walls rated for 10 to 20 pounds per square foot. This regulatory scheme applies only inside unincorporated Kitsap County; Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island enforce their own flood ordinances. 425, cross-references Title 15 and states that where the two conflict, Title 15 governs.

Violations & Fines

Kitsap County Code § 15.04.050 makes any violation of the flood hazard chapter a Class I civil infraction, with each day the violation continues or is permitted counted as a separate infraction. Infractions are processed under Chapter 2.116, and the maximum penalty and default amount for a single Class I civil infraction is $500, not including statutory assessments added by the court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build in a Kitsap County flood zone?

Yes. Kitsap County Code § 15.12.010 requires a development permit from the Department of Community Development before any construction, fill, or land alteration begins in an area of special flood hazard, and this applies only in unincorporated areas of the county.

How high above flood level must a new house be built?

Under § 15.12.090, new or substantially improved residential structures in AE or A1-30 zones must have the lowest floor, including basement, at least one foot above the base flood elevation; without a determined BFE, the floor must sit at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade.

Can I keep an RV on my property in a flood zone?

Yes, if it stays fewer than 180 consecutive days or is fully licensed, on its wheels, and connected only by quick-disconnect utilities per § 15.12.055; otherwise it must meet the manufactured home elevation and anchoring standards in § 15.12.110.

What is the penalty for building without a flood permit in Kitsap County?

Section 15.04.050 makes the violation a Class I civil infraction capped at $500 plus statutory assessments, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate infraction processed under Chapter 2.116.

Does this flood ordinance apply inside Bremerton or Port Orchard?

No. Kitsap County Code Title 15 governs only unincorporated county land; Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island each administer their own flood hazard ordinances for property inside city limits.

Sources & Official References

[1]Kitsap County Code Title 15, Flood Hazard Areas (eCode360)

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All Kitsap County rules

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