Lakewood, CO Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Lakewood, CO, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Governing map
- FIRM effective Aug 2, 2022
- Covers
- Jefferson County & Lakewood
- Administered by
- Flood Plain Administrator
- Applies to
- Buildings, fences, fill, grading
Summary
Lakewood regulates development in mapped flood hazard areas under its Flood Plain Management Ordinance, adopting the FEMA Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map for Jefferson County effective August 2, 2022.
There is hereby adopted the Flood Insurance Study for Jefferson County, Colorado and Incorporated Areas prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, effective August 02, 2022, and amendments thereto, and the Flood Insurance Rate Map, effective August 02, 2022, and amendments thereto, and the following studies and amendments thereto and all technical back-up information as the Official Flood Studies for Lakewood, Colorado. A copy of said Map, studies and amendments are on file with the City of Lakewood Department of Public Works and available for public inspection.1.Flood Hazard Area Delineation Weir Gulch Tributaries
1st Avenue Dakota Avenue July, 1977
2.Major Drainageway Planning Weir Gulch Tributaries
1st Avenue and Dakota Avenue
Depew Street Basin July, 1978
Portions of this study are superseded by (19) and (24) below.
3.Major Drainageway Planning, Volume 2 Sanderson Gulch/Weir Gulch August, 1972
Portions of this study are superseded by (4), (16) and (26) below.
4.Weir Gulch Drainage Improvements Schedule III
South Garrison Street to Main Reservoir January, 1977
5.Flood Hazard Area Delineation Lakewood Gulch February, 1979
6.Flood Hazard Area Delineation McIntyre Gulch October, 1977
7.Flood Hazard Area Delineation Sloans Lake Drainageway and Tributaries July, 2018
8.Flood Hazard Area Delineation Green Mountain Area April, 1978
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 14 | Zoning Ordinance: ?).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 14.25 of the Lakewood Municipal Code adopts the Flood Insurance Study for Jefferson County and Incorporated Areas and the Flood Insurance Rate Map, both effective August 2, 2022, plus a list of prior local drainageway studies, as the city's Official Flood Studies. Any use not permitted in the underlying zone district is barred in the flood plain, and permitted uses face conditions set by the Ordinance. Development, defined broadly to include buildings, fences, mining, filling, grading, or paving, requires a flood plain development permit, and the Flood Plain Administrator reviews building permits for flood safety before they issue.
Violations & Fines
Development without a flood plain development permit, or noncompliance with the Ordinance's construction and anchoring requirements, is a violation subject to enforcement by the Flood Plain Administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lakewood have its own floodplain map?
What counts as regulated development in a Lakewood flood plain?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
Compare Lakewood to another location·View the Colorado environmental rules overview
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Flood Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle flood zones.