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Littleton, CO Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

FEMA flood zone rules in Littleton, 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: FEMA FIS dated 4/11/2024, current FIRMs
Administrator: Public Works Department
Banned uses in flood fringe: Junkyards, landfills, wrecking yards, outdoor storage, habitation shelters
BFE increase: Any increase above 0.00 ft prohibited
CLOMR trigger: >6 in. rise where floodway undefined
Max fine: $2,650 per day, per violation

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 Littleton, CO.

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 Littleton, CO on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

Littleton bars solid waste facilities, outdoor storage and habitable structures in its flood fringe, prohibits any increase in base flood elevation on insurable structures, and requires a FEMA Conditional Letter of Map Revision plus a Planning Commission hearing before certain floodway-undefined development can proceed.

B. Permitted Uses. ... Any use permitted in the applicable zoning district may be allowed subject to full compliance with this Chapter and other applicable requirements, except for solid waste disposal facilities such as junkyards, sanitary landfills, and automobile wrecking yards; outdoor storage of any material; or tents, makeshift structures, enclosures, or other shelters used for human habitation unless in locations expressly permitted by the Floodplain Administrator and having adequate sanitation facilities and flood evacuation plans. ... ... 2. Prohibited Unless CLOMR. Any proposed development or construction within a FEMA floodplain where a regulatory floodway is not defined, which causes an increase in existing conditions model one percent chance flood water surface elevations over six inches is prohibited, unless approved by a Commission public hearing and a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) is approved by FEMA prior to start of construction.

View official code

Full Breakdown

S. Title 29, Article 20, applies to all land in or immediately adjacent to the 100-year floodplain as mapped in FEMA's Flood Insurance Study for Arapahoe County and Incorporated Areas, dated April 11, 2024, and current FIRMs, on file at Public Works and Bemis Public Library. 5, Floodplain/Flood Fringe Regulations, allows any use permitted in the applicable zoning district in the flood fringe, subject to full Chapter compliance, except solid waste disposal facilities such as junkyards, sanitary landfills and automobile wrecking yards, outdoor storage of any material, and tents or other shelters used for human habitation, unless the Floodplain Administrator expressly permits them with adequate sanitation and evacuation plans.

Where a regulatory floodway is not defined, any development that would raise the one percent chance flood surface elevation more than six inches is prohibited unless the Planning Commission holds a public hearing and FEMA approves a Conditional Letter of Map Revision before construction starts. 00 feet in base flood elevation on an insurable structure is flatly prohibited, and significant fill projects over a quarter acre that concentrate floodwaters past a set velocity-depth threshold are barred unless contained in a drainage easement. Subdivisions in or adjacent to the floodplain must provide base flood elevation data for every lot, and a FEMA CLOMR or LOMR triggers a plat restriction barring building permits until the map revision is effective.

Violations & Fines

The City Manager, acting through the Public Works Department's Floodplain Administrator, enforces these regulations by investigation, written compliance orders served personally or by certified mail, and 'all legal and equitable means allowed by law, including injunctive relief' under Section 10-7-1.1.B. Code violations otherwise carry the General Penalty of City Code Section 1-4-1: a fine of up to $2,650, imprisonment of up to 364 days, or both, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build in Littleton's floodplain?

Only within limits. Section 10-7-1.5 allows uses otherwise permitted in the zoning district within the flood fringe, but bans junkyards, landfills, wrecking yards, outdoor storage, and shelters used for human habitation unless the Floodplain Administrator expressly approves them with sanitation and evacuation plans.

What is a CLOMR and when does Littleton require one?

A Conditional Letter of Map Revision from FEMA. Where a regulatory floodway is undefined, development raising the one percent chance flood elevation more than six inches is prohibited unless the Planning Commission holds a public hearing and FEMA approves a CLOMR before construction begins.

Who enforces Littleton's floodplain regulations?

The City Manager, acting through the Public Works Department's Floodplain Administrator, who investigates complaints, issues written compliance orders by personal service or certified mail, and may pursue injunctive relief and all other legal and equitable remedies under Section 10-7-1.1.B.

Can base flood elevation increase on my property in Littleton?

No. Section 10-7-1.5.C.4 prohibits any increase, meaning greater than 0.00 feet, in base flood elevation on an insurable structure, whether established by an independent study or published FEMA data, and the same bar applies to the flood fringe outside a regulatory floodway.

Sources & Official References

[1]Littleton, CO Unified Land Use Code § 10-7-1.5, Floodplain/Flood Fringe Regulations

Other rules in Littleton

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: EV ChargingSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions

All Littleton rules

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