Pacifica, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Pacifica Municipal Code Chapter 7-5 applies to all special flood hazard areas within the City, based on the Flood Insurance Study and accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps FEMA issued for Pacifica dated February 19, 1987, and all later amendments, which are on file at 1800 Francisco Boulevard. 403 requires a floodplain development permit before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a mapped special flood hazard area, and that permit must be obtained at the same time as the building permit. Applicants must submit scaled plans showing the location, dimensions and elevation of the area, proposed water supply, sewer and utility locations, grading and drainage information, the location of the regulatory floodway where applicable, and the proposed elevation of the lowest floor relative to mean sea level.

The Planning Director serves as Floodplain Administrator with ultimate authority to grant or deny these permits, and can delegate that authority to the Building Official or Engineering Division. The Administrator must confirm that FEMA Letters of Map Revision are approved before building permits issue for flood control projects, and building permits cannot be issued based on a Conditional Letter of Map Revision alone. The chapter is written as a set of minimum requirements and expressly yields to any other ordinance, easement, covenant or deed restriction that is more restrictive.

It doesn't create City liability for flood damages that result from reliance on the regulations or from a lawfully made administrative decision, and it warns that larger floods than the design flood can and will occur.