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Medina, OH Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

Enforcing agency: Floodplain Administrator with the Building Department
Prohibited uses: Private water systems, infectious waste facilities, bulk fuel storage
Permit trigger: Any construction in a mapped special flood hazard area
Penalty class: Fourth-degree misdemeanor, strict liability
Appeal path: Board of Zoning Appeals, then Medina County Common Pleas Court

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 Medina, OH.

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 Medina, OH on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

Medina's floodplain code bans specific hazardous uses inside any FEMA-mapped special flood hazard area and requires a floodplain development permit for everything else. Private water supply systems, infectious waste treatment facilities, and bulk gasoline or diesel storage are flatly prohibited. The Floodplain Administrator, working with the Building Department, enforces the standards under Chapter 1379.

1379.04 USE AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR FLOOD HAZARD REDUCTION. The following use and development standards apply to development wholly within, partially within, or in contact with any special flood hazard area as established in Section 1379.01(f). ... (2) Prohibited Uses. A. Private water supply systems in all special flood hazard areas identified by FEMA, permitted under Section 3701 of the Ohio Revised Code. B. Infectious waste treatment facilities in all special flood hazard areas, permitted under Section 3734 of the Ohio Revised Code. ... D. Facilities with on-site bulk storage of gasoline and/or diesel fuel.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025-01: Local legislation current through June 24, 2025 | State legislation current through December 31, 2024).

Full Breakdown

01(f). 04(a) splits uses into two tracks: anything not otherwise prohibited is permitted if it meets the chapter's development standards, but several specific uses are barred outright regardless of permit conditions. C. C. 3734 respectively. Facilities with on-site bulk gasoline or diesel storage are likewise prohibited. 4. Water supply, sanitary sewer, and on-site waste disposal systems must be designed to keep floodwater from infiltrating or discharging through them. The Floodplain Administrator, coordinating with the Medina City Building Department, interprets flood boundary disputes and issues the floodplain development permit required before any construction proceeds in a mapped area. 05.

Violations & Fines

Building or developing in a special flood hazard area without a floodplain development permit, or in a manner inconsistent with an approved permit, violates Section 1379.06(a). The code treats any breach as a strict liability offense and a fourth-degree misdemeanor; the Floodplain Administrator issues a written notice of violation with a compliance deadline before referring the matter for prosecution, and each day of continued noncompliance is a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a new water well in Medina's floodplain?

No. Section 1379.04(a)(2)A prohibits private water supply systems in every special flood hazard area mapped by FEMA, regardless of the permit conditions offered elsewhere in Chapter 1379. This tracks the private water system rules in Ohio R.C. 3701 and applies uniformly across the mapped area, not just the floodway.

Who decides where the flood hazard boundary sits on my lot?

The Floodplain Administrator makes that call. If a FEMA map boundary and actual field elevations disagree, the base flood elevation or flood protection elevation on record controls. Owners who dispute the determination can appeal under Section 1379.05, Appeals and Variances.

What happens if I develop in the floodplain without a permit?

The Floodplain Administrator issues a written notice of violation with a compliance deadline, and continued noncompliance is prosecuted as a fourth-degree misdemeanor under Section 1379.06(c), a strict liability offense. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense, so the exposure grows quickly.

Sources & Official References

[1]Medina Codified Ordinances § 1379.04

Other rules in Medina

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All Medina rules

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