Otero County, NM Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Otero County Code § 135-6 applies Chapter 135's Flood Damage Prevention rules to all areas of special flood hazard within the County's jurisdiction, as mapped in FEMA's November 4, 2015 Flood Insurance Study and accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps under § 135-7. Section 135-8 requires a floodplain development permit to ensure conformance with the chapter, and § 135-9 bars any structure or land from being located, altered, or having its use changed in a flood hazard area without full compliance. The Emergency Manager serves as floodplain administrator under § 135-13, reviewing and approving or denying permits, maintaining public records, verifying other required federal, state or local approvals, interpreting flood hazard boundary disputes, and, in riverine situations, notifying adjacent communities and the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management before any watercourse alteration.

Permit applications under § 135-15 must show the elevation of the lowest floor of new or substantially improved structures, floodproofing elevation for nonresidential buildings, and any watercourse alteration, with approval weighed against flood danger, susceptibility to damage, emergency vehicle access and the availability of non-flood-prone alternative sites. Where a regulatory floodway hasn't been designated, § 135-14I bars new construction, substantial improvement or fill in Zone A1-30, AO or AE unless it's shown the cumulative development won't raise the base flood water surface elevation more than one foot.