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Perris, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in Perris, CA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Governing chapter
PMC Ch. 15.04, Administration
Floodplain administrator
Director of Development Services
FIS/FIRM adoption date
July 2, 1992
Maps on file at
135 N. D Street, Perris, CA
Cumulative rise limit
No more than 1 ft. citywide
Violation penalty
Misdemeanor under § 15.03.030
Appeal body
Perris City Council

Summary

Perris requires a development permit before any construction, grading, fill, or manufactured home placement within a mapped special flood hazard area. The floodplain administrator, the director of development services, reviews plans against Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps adopted in 1992 before work can start.

A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in section 15.03.020. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the city. The applicant shall provide the following minimum information: (1) Plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing: a. Location, dimensions, and elevation of the area in question, existing or proposed structures, storage of materials and equipment and their location; ... f. Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures; and g. Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed, as required in section 15.05.010(3)b... (2) Certification from a registered civil engineer or architect that the nonresidential floodproofed building meets the floodproofing criteria in section 15.05.010(3)b. ... (4) Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of proposed development.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).

Full Breakdown

030. The application, submitted on city forms, must include duplicate scaled plans showing the location, dimensions and elevation of the site and any existing or proposed structures; the location of water supply, sanitary sewer and other utilities; grading information with existing and proposed contours and drainage facilities; the location of the regulatory floodway where one applies; base flood elevation data; and the proposed elevation of the lowest floor of every structure. 010(3)(b) criteria, and crawlspace foundations must document the size and location of flood-vent openings.

020(1)). The special hazard areas themselves come from the Flood Insurance Study for the City of Perris dated July 2, 1992, and its flood insurance rate maps, kept on file at the planning and community development department, 135 N. 020). 040.

Violations & Fines

Section 15.03.030 makes it a misdemeanor to construct, locate, extend, convert, or alter any structure or land in violation of Title 15's floodplain requirements, including violation of any permit condition or safeguard. The section also preserves the city's authority to take any other lawful action needed to prevent or remedy a violation, on top of criminal prosecution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build in a Perris flood hazard area?
Yes. Section 15.04.030 requires a development permit before any construction, grading, fill, or manufactured home placement within an area of special flood hazard, obtained from the city on forms that call for scaled plans, elevation data, and utility locations before work begins.
Who decides Perris floodplain permit applications?
The director of development services, designated floodplain administrator under Section 15.04.010, reviews each application to confirm the site is reasonably safe from flooding and that other required state and federal permits, including any FEMA letter of map revision, have been obtained.
What happens if I build without a Perris flood development permit?
Section 15.03.030 makes unpermitted construction or alteration within a flood hazard area a misdemeanor, and the city retains authority to take further lawful action, including code enforcement, to stop or remedy the violation regardless of criminal charges.
Can I appeal a floodplain administrator decision in Perris?
Yes. Section 15.04.040 lets anyone who believes the floodplain administrator made an error in enforcing Title 15 appeal that decision to the Perris City Council, which hears and decides the appeal.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Perris

All Perris rules

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