Los Banos, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

The City of Los Banos regulates development inside flood-prone areas under Title 4, Chapter 9 of the Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance 936 in 1998 under the City Council's Government Code Sections 65302, 65560 and 65800 zoning authority. 05 ties that boundary to the FEMA Flood Insurance Study for Merced County dated February 18, 1991, and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps dated August 2, 1995, plus all later amendments, which are kept on file at City Hall, 520 J Street. 11 requires a development permit for any proposed construction, other development, or manufactured home placement in the community so the City can determine whether the site falls inside a flood-prone area.

13 directs the Administrator to confirm the chapter's permit requirements are met, that other state and federal permits are secured, and that the site is reasonably safe from flooding before signing off. 06 makes compliance mandatory: no structure or land may be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered without following the chapter, and violating those requirements, including conditions attached to a permit, is a misdemeanor. 15 extends the same flood-damage review to subdivision proposals and manufactured home parks sited in flood-prone areas, requiring adequate drainage and utility placement that minimizes flood exposure.