Does Little Chute, WI have its own flood zones ordinance?

No. Little Chute, WI does not appear to have a local flood zones ordinance, Wisconsin state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from the Wisconsin statute.

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Little Chute

Little Chute, WI Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

Flood Zone: Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 mandates local floodplain zoning
Flood Zone: Wis. Admin. Code Chapter NR 116 sets minimum floodplain standards
Flood Zone: Floodplain provisions are integrated into Little Chute Chapter 44 (Zoning)
FEMA Map: Outagamie County DFIRM database FEMA-CID 55087C (2008 publication)
Flood Zone: Fox River is the primary flood source through Little Chute
Flood Zone: Village participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Flood Zone: Board of Appeals cannot grant use variances in floodplain districts
Flood Zone: NR 116 typically requires 2 ft freeboard above regional flood elevation

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 Little Chute, WI.

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 Little Chute, WI on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

The Village of Little Chute participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and regulates floodplain development through provisions integrated into Chapter 44 (Zoning) of the Village Code, in conformance with Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 116, plus 44 CFR Parts 59-72. The Fox River, which flows through the village (and gives it its name from the historic Little Chute rapids and lock system), is the primary regulated flood source. Outagamie County's FEMA Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRM database FEMA-CID 55087C, published 2008) underlie the regulatory floodplain. The Village's Board of Appeals is prohibited from granting use variances in floodplain or wetland and conservancy districts.

87.30(1)(a) If any county, city or village does not adopt a reasonable and effective floodplain zoning ordinance within one year after hydraulic and engineering data adequate to formulate the ordinance becomes available, the department shall, upon petition of an interested state agency or a municipality or upon its own motion as soon as practicable and after public hearing, determine and fix by order the limits of any or all floodplains within a county, city or village within which serious damage may occur. ... 87.30(2)(a) Every structure, building, fill, or development placed or maintained within any floodplain in violation of a zoning ordinance adopted under this section ... is a public nuisance ... Any person who places or maintains any structure, building, fill or development within any floodplain in violation ... may be fined not more than $50 for each offense. Each day during which such violation exists is a separate offense.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Wisconsin requires every municipality with mapped floodplain or that participates in the NFIP to adopt a floodplain zoning ordinance meeting the minimum standards of Chapter NR 116 (Wis. Admin. Code) and 44 CFR Parts 59-72, under the authority of Wis. Stat. Sec. 30. The Village of Little Chute, in Outagamie County, integrates these standards into Chapter 44 of the Village Code (Zoning) rather than as a separate floodplain chapter. The Fox River is the principal regulated waterway through Little Chute. The currently effective Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map for Outagamie County (FEMA-CID 55087C; metadata publication date May 15, 2008, with Risk MAP updates derived from the Fox River HEC-RAS 2008 Appleton Leverage Study) maps Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zone A/AE) along the Fox.

13). Floodplain permits are issued by the Village's zoning administrator before any building permit may be issued, and the ordinance must be reviewed and approved by the Wisconsin DNR. gov), and the National Flood Hazard Layer provide the authoritative maps.

Violations & Fines

Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30(2) and NR 116.21 require enforcement of local floodplain zoning. Violations - including filling, structural development, or occupancy of habitable space in the floodway, or building below the flood protection elevation in the flood fringe - can result in citation, daily forfeitures, removal/restoration orders, and loss of NFIP eligibility for the property. Misrepresenting elevation data on a permit application is independently actionable. Failure of a community to enforce can lead to suspension from the NFIP under 44 CFR Part 59. The Little Chute Board of Appeals is expressly prohibited from granting use variances in floodplain or wetland and conservancy districts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who regulates floodplain development in Little Chute?

The Village of Little Chute enforces floodplain zoning under Chapter 44 of the Village Code, in conformance with Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and Wis. Admin. Code Chapter NR 116. The Wisconsin DNR provides oversight and must approve the local ordinance, and FEMA maintains the Flood Insurance Rate Maps used to delineate Special Flood Hazard Areas.

What flood maps cover Little Chute?

Outagamie County's countywide FEMA Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (FEMA-CID 55087C, with database publication May 15, 2008) covers the Village of Little Chute, with the Fox River as the principal mapped flood source. Current effective panels can be downloaded at FEMA's Map Service Center.

Can I build a new house in the Fox River floodway in Little Chute?

No. Under Wis. Admin. Code NR 116, new residential structures are prohibited in the regulatory floodway. In the flood fringe, habitable space must be elevated to the flood protection elevation (regional flood elevation plus freeboard, typically 2 feet), and the Little Chute Board of Appeals cannot grant a use variance in floodplain districts.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Little Chute

Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesSome Restrictions

All Little Chute rules

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Flood Zones in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Outagamie County handle flood zones.

Appleton, WI