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Dane County, WI Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

Governing chapter: Ch. 17, Dane County Code of Ordinances
Mapped zones covered: Zones A, AO, AH, A1-30, AE
FIRM panel date: January 2, 2009 (unincorporated county)
Permit required: Land use permit before any development, s. 17.12(1)(b)
Penalty: Up to $50 per day, plus costs
State authorization: Wis. Stat. §§ 59.69, 59.692, 59.694, 87.30

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 Dane County, WI.

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 Dane County, WI on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

Dane County regulates every Zone A, AO, AH, A1-30 and AE area on the Flood Insurance Rate Map under Chapter 17 of its Code of Ordinances, adopted under Wis. Stat. §§ 59.69, 59.692, 59.694 and 87.30. Before any construction, addition or change of use begins in a mapped floodplain, the zoning administrator must confirm the site can be built on safely and that a land use permit has been issued.

City-specific rules exist: Madison has its own flood zones rules that differ from Dane County's county-level regulations. If you live in Madison, check the city-specific page instead.

17.07 GENERAL STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO ALL FLOODPLAIN DISTRICTS. The zoning administrator shall review all permit applications to determine whether proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding and assure that all necessary permits have been received from those governmental agencies whose approval is required by federal or state law. If a proposed building site is in a flood-prone area, all new construction and substantial improvements shall: be designed and anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy; be constructed with flood-resistant materials; be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damages; and mechanical and utility equipment must be elevated to or above the flood protection elevation.

Source: Dane County Chapter 17 – Floodplain ZoningView official code

Full Breakdown

Chapter 17, the Floodplain Zoning Ordinance for Dane County, applies to the special flood hazard areas shown on the FIRM panels dated January 2, 2009 for unincorporated Dane County, plus any additional area the DNR and county later map. Under s. 07(1), the zoning administrator reviews every permit application to confirm a proposed building site will be reasonably safe from flooding and that all necessary state and federal approvals have been secured; in a flood-prone area, new construction and substantial improvements must be anchored to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, built with flood-resistant materials, constructed by methods that minimize flood damage, and have mechanical and utility equipment elevated to or above the flood protection elevation.

A land use permit is required under s. 12(1)(b) before any development, repair, modification or addition to an existing structure, or change of use, can begin, including changes to sewer and water facilities. Watercourse alterations or relocations must maintain the existing flood-carrying capacity, and the county must apply to FEMA for a Letter of Map Revision within six months of the alteration. Development requiring a state permit under Wis. chs. 30 and 31, docks, piers, wharves, bridges, culverts, dams and navigational aids, can proceed only once the state permits are obtained and a matching amendment to the floodplain ordinance is made under s. 13.

Violations & Fines

Any violation of Chapter 17 is referred to the Dane County Corporation Counsel, who is directed to 'expeditiously prosecute all such violators.' A conviction carries a forfeiture of not more than $50, plus taxable court costs, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense. The ordinance also declares every violation a public nuisance, giving the county an independent path to seek abatement beyond the forfeiture itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What areas does Dane County's floodplain ordinance cover?

Chapter 17 regulates every area mapped as Zone A, AO, AH, A1-30 or AE on the Flood Insurance Rate Map, using panels dated January 2, 2009 for unincorporated Dane County. The county and DNR can also add areas identified in later flood hazard studies, with all current maps kept on file with the zoning administrator in the planning and development department.

Do I need a permit to build in a Dane County floodplain?

Yes. Section 17.12(1)(b) requires a land use permit before any development, repair, modification or addition to an existing structure, or any change in the use of a building, including work on sewer and water facilities. The zoning administrator reviews the application under s. 17.07(1) to confirm the site will be reasonably safe from flooding.

What construction standards apply once I'm in the floodplain?

Under s. 17.07(1), new construction and substantial improvements must be anchored against flotation, collapse or lateral movement from flood loads, built with flood-resistant materials, constructed to minimize flood damage, and have mechanical and utility equipment elevated to or above the flood protection elevation before the zoning administrator will approve the permit.

What's the penalty for building in the floodplain without approval?

Section 17.14 makes any violation of Chapter 17 unlawful and refers it to the Corporation Counsel for prosecution. A conviction carries a forfeiture of not more than $50 plus taxable costs, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense, and the ordinance separately labels every violation a public nuisance.

Sources & Official References

[1]Dane County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 17 (Floodplain Zoning)

Other rules in Dane County

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All Dane County rules

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