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

County Code § 12.37.010 creates the FPO Floodplain Overlay District under the authority of Wisconsin Statute § 87.30, covering land within the AE, A, AH and AO zones shown on the current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Except for public water measuring and control facilities, bridges and utilities, the ordinance flatly bars 'structures, dwellings, mobile/manufactured homes or shelters' from being located, moved or placed anywhere in the FPO District, a prohibition the code says 'shall be strictly construed and shall not be subject to variances.' Dumping, filling and excavation are prohibited too, except for authorized bulkhead lines or bridge approaches and normal earth grading for open space, recreation, yard, parking and similar uses, and the district cannot be used to store materials that are buoyant, flammable, explosive or injurious to human, animal, plant or fish life.

The zoning administrator must deny a permit for any development that would obstruct floodwater flow or raise the regional flood height, based on the officially adopted FIRM, unless the applicant secures an ordinance amendment under § 12.60.010. A short list of conditional uses can proceed with committee review, including bridges, DNR- and Army Corps-authorized bulkhead filling, municipal water and sewer lines, unstructured park and recreation areas, and utility facilities built to Wis. Admin. Code § NR116.17 standards; dam construction additionally requires a public hearing before the Planning, Development & Extension Education Committee. Where a lot straddles the floodplain and an adjoining district, only the portion outside the floodplain counts toward the district's minimum lot area, and at least 40,000 square feet must lie outside the floodplain if public sewer is unavailable.