Methuen, MA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Section 11.17 governs the Floodplain District in the City of Methuen, Massachusetts. Under § 3.3(P), the district is an overlay that includes all special flood hazard areas on the Methuen Flood Insurance Rate Map issued by FEMA dated June 18, 1987, as amended, in Zones A, AE, AH, AO, A1-A30 and A99, together with the Flood Boundary and Floodway Map of the same date. The purpose is to protect human life and property from the hazards of periodic flooding and to preserve the natural flood control characteristics and flood storage capacity of the floodplain. The maps and the Flood Insurance Study booklet are on file with the City Clerk, Community Development Board, Building Commissioner and Conservation Commission.

All development, structural and nonstructural, by right or by special permit, must comply with 780 CMR 744.0 of the state building code, 310 CMR 10.00 wetlands protection, 302 CMR 6.00 inland wetlands restriction, the Title 5 rules for subsurface disposal of sanitary sewage, and Methuen Municipal Ordinances. Subsection B adds MGL c. 131, § 40. Development means any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations. Within Zones AH and AO, adequate drainage paths around structures are required on slopes, to guide floodwaters around and away from proposed structures.

A routing procedure sends one copy of the development plan to the Conservation Commission, Community Development Board, Board of Health, City Engineer and Building Commissioner for comments, which the permitting board considers before issuing applicable permits. The routing procedure is for informational purposes only. In regulatory floodways designated on the Methuen FIRM or Flood Boundary Floodway Map, encroachments that would result in any increase in the base flood discharge are prohibited.