Queen Creek, AZ Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Because Queen Creek straddles Maricopa and Pinal counties, the Town Code splits floodplain enforcement along the county line rather than running one unified town program. Town Code Section 13-1-1 designates the Maricopa County Flood Control District and the Pinal County Flood Control District as the enforcement authority for flood plain management activities within FEMA-designated special flood hazard areas, and within areas the districts identify as special flood concern inside town limits. For land outside those designated areas, the Town itself, or another designated agent, enforces the drainage and erosion provisions instead.

Section 13-1-3 appoints the Town Engineer as the National Flood Insurance Program floodplain administrator, responsible for coordinating with both county flood control districts and serving as the community point of contact for county, state and federal officials on flood insurance program issues. In the Maricopa County portion of Town, the applicable basis is the September 30, 2005 Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Maricopa County, together with the county's Floodplain Management Regulations dated January 17, 2018. In the Pinal County portion, the Town instead applies the December 4, 2007 Flood Insurance Study and FIRMs for Pinal County, together with the Pinal County Floodplain Management Ordinance dated May 10, 2019, both as later amended.

Both county adoptions were most recently refreshed by companion Ordinances 860-25 (Pinal) and 861-25 (Maricopa), adopted April 2, 2025. Section 13-1-2 separately requires that all building permit applications use the Maricopa County Drainage Design Manuals for Hydrology, Hydraulics and Erosion Control, copies of which are kept on file with the Town Clerk.