Broward County, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Broward County, FL, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Permit required
- before any development in a flood hazard area
- Administered by
- Building Official as Floodplain Administrator
- Permit expiration
- 180 days if work not started
- Applies to
- unincorporated Broward County only
- Governing article
- Code of Ordinances § 5-78 et seq.
Summary
Any development in a Broward flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit before work starts, under the county's Floodplain Management Ordinance.
Any owner of property or such owner's authorized agent (hereinafter "applicant") who intends to undertake any development activity within the scope of this Article, including construction of, or repair or improvements to, buildings, structures, and facilities exempt from the Florida Building Code, which is wholly within or partially within any flood hazard area, shall first make application to the Floodplain Administrator, and the Building Official if applicable and different from the Floodplain Administrator, and shall obtain the required permit(s) and approval(s). No such permit or approval shall be issued until compliance with the requirements of this Article and all other applicable codes and regulations has been satisfied.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Broward County's Floodplain Management Ordinance (Code of Ordinances, Art. V of Ch. 5) applies to all development in flood hazard areas within the unincorporated county, per Sec. 5-79(b): flood hazard areas are those FEMA identifies in the county's Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Under Sec. 5-81(a), any property owner or agent undertaking development in a flood hazard area, including buildings and structures exempt from the Florida Building Code, must first apply to the Floodplain Administrator (the Building Official) and obtain a floodplain development permit before starting work. Permits expire if work is not started within 180 days. This applies only in unincorporated Broward; Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs and the county's other 27 municipalities administer their own floodplain ordinances.
Violations & Fines
Development undertaken without a permit, in conflict with an issued permit, or not fully complying with the Article is a violation (Sec. 5-85(a)); a building lacking required elevation documentation is presumed noncompliant. The Floodplain Administrator may issue stop-work orders, and continuing work after a stop-work order or notice of violation is punishable under Chapter 8½ Code Enforcement (Sec. 5-85(c)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood?
What triggers a floodplain development permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
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