FEMA flood zone rules in Newport News, VA — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Newport News participates in the NFIP and regulates development in FEMA flood zones. The city's coastal and riverine geography creates significant flood hazard areas along the James River, Hampton Roads harbor, and tidal creeks.
Newport News' floodplain regulations require new construction in FEMA SFHAs to meet elevation and floodproofing standards. The lowest floor must be at or above BFE. The city's coastal location along the James River, Hampton Roads harbor, and numerous tidal creeks creates extensive flood hazard areas. The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act also imposes buffer area requirements. Flood insurance is required for federally-backed mortgages in SFHAs.
Building in flood zones without proper permits and elevation certificates violates local and federal regulations. CBPA buffer violations carry additional penalties.
Newport News, VA
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Newport News, VA
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Newport News, VA
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Newport News, VA
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Newport News, VA
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Newport News, VA
Newport News Code Ch. 33.02 requires a landscaped green area as part of all site plans. The city officially encourages use of native and drought-tolerant pla...
See how Newport News's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
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