FEMA flood zone rules in Martin County, FL — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Martin County enforces a Floodplain Management Ordinance under Land Development Regulations Article 4, Division 10 (Flood Protection). Within Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), the lowest finished floor of any new or substantially improved structure must be at least 1 foot above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE).
LDR Article 4, Division 10 codifies Martin County's floodplain management standards consistent with FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. Section 4.428 governs variance applications. The 1-foot freeboard requirement above the BFE applies to the lowest finished floor of new construction and substantial improvements, including attached garages, enclosures, crawlspaces, and machinery/equipment servicing the building. Structures that are 'substantially damaged' (damage equal to or exceeding 50% of market value) must be brought into compliance with the current flood standards. Martin County participates in the NFIP Community Rating System, which provides flood insurance discounts to residents.
Building below the required flood elevation in an SFHA is a violation of both the LDR and Florida Building Code; corrective action may include elevating or demolishing the structure. Continuing violations are subject to civil fines through the Code Enforcement Board (up to $250/day first offense; $500/day repeat) under Fla. Stat. 162.09.
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See how Martin County's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
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