New Rochelle, NY Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Article IV of Chapter 111, Flood Damage Prevention, designates the Building Official as Local Administrator responsible for granting or denying floodplain development permits under § 111-33A. Section 111-33B establishes the permit itself: it is unlawful to undertake any development in an area of special flood hazard shown on the City's Flood Insurance Rate Map without a valid floodplain development permit. The special flood hazard areas are defined in § 111-32B by FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Map panels for Community Number 360922, effective September 28, 2007, and the accompanying Flood Insurance Study for Westchester County, later amended by two Letters of Map Revision affecting Panel 36119C0344F.

Applications go to the Local Administrator on forms that require plans showing the nature, location, dimensions and elevation of the site, existing or proposed structures, and any fill, storage or drainage facilities, per § 111-33B and D. Depending on the flood zone, an applicant may also need a licensed engineer's certification of the proposed lowest floor elevation, floodproofing design, or watercourse alteration analysis. Every application carries a fee set in Chapter 133, plus a deposit of up to $500 for the Local Administrator's additional review, inspection and approval costs, and a separate fee for the Floodplain Certificate needed to close out the permit at construction's end.

The Local Administrator reviews each application for completeness and compliance, determines whether the proposed development could damage other property such as through stream bank erosion, and must confirm all other required state and federal approvals have been obtained before issuing the permit.