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Marietta, GA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

Permit required before: any land development in a flood hazard area
Floodway rule: new fill/construction prohibited except bridges, culverts, roads, utilities
No-rise threshold: cannot raise flood elevation 0.01 ft or more
Administering official: Public Works Director
Applies to: all areas within the City of Marietta

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 Marietta, GA.

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 Marietta, GA on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

Marietta requires a land development permit before any activity begins in a mapped area of special flood hazard or future-conditions flood hazard under City Code § 7-8-10-030(A). Section 7-8-10-040(E) bars new fill, construction or substantial improvements inside the regulatory floodway, with narrow exceptions for bridges, culverts, roadways and utilities that pass a no-rise engineering analysis.

A.Permit Application Requirements. No owner or developer shall perform any land development activities on a site where an area of special flood hazard or area of future-conditions flood hazard is located without first meeting the requirements of this article prior to commencing the proposed activity. ... 1.Encroachments are prohibited, including earthen fill, new construction, substantial improvements or other development within the regulatory floodway, except for activities specifically allowed in Subsection 2. below.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).

Full Breakdown

The article applies citywide under § 7-8-10-010(C) and is administered by the public works director. Before touching a site in a flood hazard area, an applicant must submit a floodplain management plan under § 7-8-10-030(B) showing existing and proposed elevations, base flood and future-conditions flood elevations, floodplain and floodway boundaries, and a licensed engineer's or surveyor's certification. 01 foot or more, reduce flood storage capacity, or create hazardous velocities or erosion, verified through a step-backwater analysis under subsection D. Section 7-8-10-040(E) then singles out the regulatory floodway itself, prohibiting encroachments including earthen fill, new construction and substantial improvements, except bridges, culverts, roadways and utilities that a licensed engineer certifies will not raise pre-project base flood elevations, floodway elevations or floodway widths.

Significant physical changes to the floodplain must go through a FEMA conditional letter of map revision or amendment before construction and a final letter of map revision afterward. Property owners in an altered or relocated floodplain segment must maintain its flood-carrying capacity or the public works director can order restoration at the owner's expense. Variance requests go to city council with notice and a hearing, and any aggrieved party can appeal to Cobb County Superior Court under Section 5-4-1 of the Georgia Code.

Violations & Fines

Violations trigger the same enforcement ladder as the rest of Article 7-8-10 under § 7-8-10-070: a written notice of violation, then a stop-work order, withheld certificate of occupancy, or permit suspension if remedial measures aren't completed. Intentional or flagrant floodway encroachments can bring a municipal court citation carrying a fine of up to $1,000.00 and/or 60 days' imprisonment, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build in a Marietta flood hazard area?

Yes. Section 7-8-10-030(A) states "no owner or developer shall perform any land development activities on a site where an area of special flood hazard or area of future-conditions flood hazard is located without first meeting the requirements of this article prior to commencing the proposed activity."

Can I build inside Marietta's regulatory floodway?

Generally no. Section 7-8-10-040(E)(1) prohibits "earthen fill, new construction, substantial improvements or other development within the regulatory floodway," with narrow exceptions in subsection 2 for bridges, culverts, roadways and utilities that a licensed engineer certifies will not raise base flood elevations or floodway widths.

How much can a project raise the flood elevation?

Section 7-8-10-040(C)(1)(a) bars any development in a special flood hazard area or future-conditions flood hazard area that would raise the base flood elevation or future-conditions flood elevation "equal to or more than 0.01 foot," verified through a step-backwater analysis.

Sources & Official References

[1]Marietta Code of Ordinances §§ 7-8-10-030, 7-8-10-040

Other rules in Marietta

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