McCracken County, KY Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Chapter 171 of the McCracken County Code, adopted by Fiscal Court in Ordinance 2011-12 (passed December 19, 2011) under KRS 100, governs development in the special flood hazard areas (SFHA) mapped by FEMA's November 1, 2011 flood insurance study and FIRM for the county. Under Section 171.05, a development permit is required before any development activity begins in the SFHA, and Section 171.26 spells out what the application must include: scaled site plans showing existing and proposed structures, fill, drainage facilities, and elevations, plus proposed lowest-floor elevation in relation to mean sea level.

The Director of the county's Building and Electrical Inspection Department serves as the Floodplain Administrator under Section 171.25 and must endorse an application before a state floodplain construction permit can be processed. Once the lowest floor is placed, the permit holder must submit an elevation certification, prepared by a registered land surveyor or professional engineer, before construction continues under Section 171.26(B)(2); failure to submit it triggers a stop-work order. Under Section 171.10, the Floodplain Administrator can issue a notice of violation and, if uncorrected, a citation carrying a civil monetary fine; the recipient has seven days to remedy the violation, pay the fine, or request a hearing before the governing body, or the violation becomes final by default.

Records including the flood insurance study and FIRM are kept for public review at the McCracken County Emergency Management Building, 3700 Coleman Road, Paducah, Kentucky. Variances from the flood ordinance are granted sparingly and only through the appeals and variance process under Section 171.11.