Does Neenah, WI have its own flood zones ordinance?

No. Neenah, WI does not appear to have a local flood zones ordinance, Wisconsin state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from the Wisconsin statute.

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Neenah

Neenah, WI Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

Measurement: Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 mandates local floodplain zoning
Authority: Wis. Admin. Code Chapter NR 116 sets the minimum standards
Measurement: Lake Winnebago Fox River primary flood sources
Measurement: City of Neenah participates in the National Flood Insurance Program
Authority: New residential structures are prohibited in the regulatory floodway
Measurement: Flood fringe lowest floor must meet the flood protection elevation (typically regional
Permit/License: Floodplain permit required before any building permit

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 Neenah, 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 Neenah, WI on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

The City of Neenah participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and regulates floodplain development in conformance with Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 116, plus 44 CFR Parts 59-72. Lake Winnebago and the Fox River are the principal flood sources through the city. Development in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas requires zoning approval before any building permit is issued, new residential structures are prohibited in the regulatory floodway, and structures in the flood fringe must have the lowest floor of habitable space elevated to the flood protection elevation. FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Winnebago County and the City of Neenah are the regulatory maps.

If any county, city or village does not adopt a reasonable and effective floodplain zoning ordinance within one year after hydraulic and engineering data adequate to formulate the ordinance becomes available, the department shall, upon petition of an interested state agency or a municipality or upon its own motion as soon as practicable and after public hearing, determine and fix by order the limits of any or all floodplains within a county, city or village within which serious damage may occur. ... Every structure, building, fill, or development placed or maintained within any floodplain in violation of a zoning ordinance ... is a public nuisance.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Wis. Stat. Sec. 30 requires every Wisconsin municipality with mapped floodplain or that participates in the NFIP to adopt and enforce a floodplain zoning ordinance meeting the minimum standards of Wis. Admin. Code Chapter NR 116 and 44 CFR Parts 59-72. 13. 13(3). The City of Neenah, situated on the north shore of Lake Winnebago at the outlet to the Fox River, has flooding risk from both water bodies, and the city is included in the FEMA Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Winnebago County.

Locally, floodplain zoning is administered through the city Zoning Ordinance and the Department of Community Development. Floodplain permits must be issued before any building permit, and elevation certificates are required for new or substantially improved structures. gov), the National Flood Hazard Layer, and the Wisconsin DNR Floodplain Mapping Program; Winnebago County also publishes an Adopted Floodplain Viewer.

Violations & Fines

Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30(2) and NR 116.21 require enforcement of local floodplain zoning. Violations - including filling, structural development, or occupancy of habitable space in the floodway, building below the flood protection elevation in the flood fringe, or improvements that exceed substantial-improvement thresholds without bringing a structure into compliance - can result in citation, daily forfeitures, removal or restoration orders, and the loss of federal disaster assistance and NFIP eligibility for the property. Misrepresenting elevation data on a permit application is independently actionable. A community that fails to enforce the ordinance can be suspended from the NFIP under 44 CFR Part 59.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who regulates floodplain development in Neenah, Wisconsin?

The City of Neenah administers floodplain zoning under its Zoning Ordinance, in conformance with Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and Wis. Admin. Code Chapter NR 116. The Wisconsin DNR provides oversight, and FEMA maintains the Flood Insurance Rate Maps used to delineate Special Flood Hazard Areas.

Can I build a new house in the Lake Winnebago or Fox River floodway in Neenah?

No. Under Wis. Admin. Code NR 116.13, new residential structures are prohibited in the regulatory floodway. In the flood fringe, the lowest floor of habitable space must be elevated to the flood protection elevation - typically the regional flood elevation plus a two-foot freeboard.

How do I find out if my Neenah property is in a flood zone?

Use the FEMA Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov, the National Flood Hazard Layer, the Wisconsin DNR Floodplain Mapping application, or the Winnebago County Adopted Floodplain Viewer to look up the regulatory flood map for your address before planning construction.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Neenah

Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome Restrictions

All Neenah rules

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Flood Zones in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Winnebago County handle flood zones.

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