Marysville, WA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Marysville, WA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Applies to
- All areas of special flood hazard citywide
- Permit needed for
- Construction, fill, and other development
- Administered by
- City building official
- Floodway sites need
- No-rise engineering analysis
- Governing section
- MMC § 22E.020.080
Summary
Marysville requires a development permit before any construction, fill, or other development begins within a mapped area of special flood hazard, covering structures, manufactured homes, and land-disturbing activity alike.
A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in MMC § 22E.020.030. The permit shall be for all structures, including manufactured homes, as set forth in Chapter 22A.020 MMC, Definitions, and for all other development, including fill and other activities, also as set forth in Chapter 22A.020 MMC, Definitions. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the building official and may include, but not be limited to: plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions and elevations of the area in question; existing or proposed structures, fill, storage of materials; drainage facilities, and the location of the foregoing. Specifically, the following information is required:
(1) Elevation in relation to mean sea level of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures;
(2) Elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any structure has been floodproofed;
(3) Certification by a registered professional engineer or architect that the floodproofing methods for any nonresidential structure meet the floodproofing criteria in MMC § 22E.020.170;
(4) Description of the extent to which a watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of the proposed development;
(5) Where a development is proposed in a floodway, an engineering analysis indicating no rise of the base flood elevation; and
(6)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4922912; v1 updated 2026-06-08; through 06-08-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Marysville Municipal Code § 22E.020.080, anyone building or developing land within an area of special flood hazard identified on the city's FIRM (per MMC § 22E.020.030) must first obtain a development permit from the building official. Applications must show elevations of the lowest floor, floodproofing certifications for nonresidential structures, watercourse alteration details, and, for floodway sites, an engineering analysis proving no rise in the base flood elevation. The chapter applies to all special flood hazard areas within city limits under MMC § 22E.020.020.
Violations & Fines
Developing in a special flood hazard area without the required permit is a misdemeanor under MMC § 22E.020.040: up to $1,000 in fines, up to 90 days in jail, or both, per violation, plus costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit just to fill or grade land in a flood zone?
Does this apply on the Tulalip Reservation nearby?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marysville
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Flood Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle flood zones.