Queens County, NY Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Queens has some of the most extensive SFHA mapping in NYC. The Rockaway Peninsula, Broad Channel, Howard Beach, Hamilton Beach, and shoreline portions of Flushing Bay, Little Neck Bay, and Bowery Bay are mapped as Zone AE or VE on FEMA FIRMs. NYC Zoning Resolution Article VI Chapter 4 (the Flood Resilience Zoning Text) allows additional height and exempts flood-resistant construction features from floor area when elevating buildings above DFE. NYC Building Code Appendix G and the 2022 Construction Code amendments require new buildings and substantial improvements in SFHAs to elevate the lowest floor to at least 2 feet above Base Flood Elevation (DFE = BFE + 2 ft for new work). Substantial improvement is defined as repairs or improvements costing 50 percent or more of market value triggering full flood-resistant construction. Flood insurance under the NFIP is mandatory for federally-backed mortgages in SFHAs. NYC updated FEMA maps are in appeal; FEMA preliminary maps expand SFHA coverage in eastern Queens and Rockaways. Build It Back and subsequent resiliency programs funded elevation of many Queens homes after Superstorm Sandy.