Montebello, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Montebello, CA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Development permit before any flood-zone construction
- Floodplain administrator
- Montebello city engineer
- Governing maps
- FIRM/FIS dated July 6, 1998
- Application on file
- 1600 West Beverly Blvd, Public Works
- Violation classification
- Misdemeanor under § 15.40.090
- Appeals body
- Montebello City Council
Summary
In the City of Montebello, no construction or other development may begin in a mapped area of special flood hazard without a development permit from the floodplain administrator. Montebello Municipal Code § 15.40.140 lists the elevation, floodproofing and watercourse information the application must show, and § 15.40.150 names the city engineer as administrator.
A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.40.080. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the floodplain administrator and may include, but not be limited to: plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions and elevation 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:A.Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures—in Zone AO, elevation of highest adjacent grade and proposed elevation of lowest floor of all structures; orB.Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed, if required in Section 15.40.210 C; andC.All appropriate certifications listed in Section 15.40.160D of this chapter; andD.Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of proposed development.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 15.40, Flood Damage Prevention, requires a development permit under § 15.40.140 before any construction or other development begins within an area of special flood hazard identified under § 15.40.080, which adopts the Federal Insurance Administration's Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps dated July 6, 1998, and all later amendments, on file with the Department of Public Works at 1600 West Beverly Boulevard. The application must show, among other things, the proposed elevation of the lowest floor relative to mean sea level, with a special AO-zone rule keyed to the depth number on the FIRM, the elevation to which a nonresidential structure will be floodproofed if required under § 15.40.210(C), the certifications listed in § 15.40.160(D), and a description of any watercourse alteration or relocation the project involves.
The city engineer serves as floodplain administrator under § 15.40.150 and reviews every permit for compliance with the chapter, confirmation of other state and federal permits, site safety from flooding, and any adverse effect on base flood carrying capacity, per § 15.40.160(A). Building without full compliance is a misdemeanor under § 15.40.090, and the city council hears appeals of the administrator's interpretations or decisions under § 15.40.170. The chapter applies to mudslide, i.e., mudflow, hazard areas as well as flood hazard areas, per § 15.40.050, and its standards are a floor, not a ceiling, so a stricter easement, covenant or deed restriction still controls under § 15.40.100.
Violations & Fines
Constructing or altering a structure in a special flood hazard area without the required development permit, or in violation of any condition attached to one, is a misdemeanor under § 15.40.090. The city may take any other lawful action necessary to prevent or remedy the violation, and the floodplain administrator can withhold documentation of compliance until an elevation certificate or other required evidence is provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build in a Montebello flood zone?
What information does a Montebello flood development permit application need?
What map does Montebello use to define its flood hazard areas?
What happens if I build in a flood zone without the permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montebello
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Flood Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle flood zones.