Rutherford County, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Chapter 7's Flood Damage Prevention ordinance requires a floodplain development permit under Sec. 7-8 before the commencement of any development activity within a special flood hazard area identified under Sec. 7-7. The chief building inspector serves as floodplain administrator (Sec. 7-21) and reviews applications that must include a scaled plot plan, the flood zone designation, base flood elevation data, and elevation or floodproofing certificates on FEMA Forms 81-31 and 81-65 before, and again after, construction (Sec. 7-22). New and substantially improved residential structures, including manufactured homes, must have their reference level elevated no lower than the regulatory flood protection elevation, and enclosed areas below that level are limited to parking, building access, or storage, with engineered flood openings required in A, AE, and A1-30 zones (Sec.

7-32). Manufactured homes with a chassis elevated more than 36 inches above grade need an engineered foundation certification (Sec. 7-22(c)). The floodplain administrator can issue stop-work orders, revoke permits for a substantial departure from approved plans, and order corrective action within 60 to 180 days after a hearing, or sooner if there is imminent danger (Sec. 7-24). Owners may appeal a corrective order to the local governing body within ten days, and separately seek a variance from the county's board of appeals, though variances cannot be granted in a floodway or non-encroachment area if they would raise flood levels during the base flood (Secs.

7-24(d), 7-25). Sec. 7-13 makes any violation of the chapter, including failure to satisfy variance conditions, a misdemeanor punishable by up to $50.00, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.