Pismo Beach, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Chapter 15.44 applies to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the city (§ 15.44.060). Section 15.44.070 adopts by reference the areas identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Flood Insurance Study for San Luis Obispo County, California and Incorporated Areas dated August 28, 2008, with the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps and all later amendments. The study and maps are on file at the City of Pismo Beach Engineering and Planning Divisions, 760 Mattie Road. Where the chapter and another ordinance, easement, covenant or deed restriction conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent restrictions prevails (§ 15.44.090).

The community development director, in cooperation with the city engineer, is the floodplain administrator and grants or denies development permits (§ 15.44.130). Under § 15.44.150 the permit application goes on forms furnished by the community development department and includes plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing the location, dimensions and elevation of the area, existing or proposed structures, and storage of materials and equipment; water supply, sanitary sewer and other utilities; grading contours, fill and drainage; the regulatory floodway where applicable; base flood elevation information; the proposed elevation of the lowest floor, including basement, in relation to mean sea level; and the floodproofing elevation of any nonresidential structure. A registered civil engineer or architect must certify a floodproofed nonresidential building, a crawl space foundation must show the location and total net area of foundation openings, and the applicant must describe the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated.

The planning commission hears appeals of floodplain administrator decisions under Chapter 17.54 (§ 15.44.160). Construction standards in § 15.44.170 cover anchoring, flood-resistant materials, and elevation or floodproofing. Recreational vehicles in the flood zones must be on site fewer than one hundred eighty consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet the permit and elevation requirements (§ 15.44.210).