FEMA flood zone rules in San Francisco, CA — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
San Francisco participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Properties in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) must comply with floodplain management requirements under SF Building Code Chapter 1A and Administrative Bulletin AB-077.
New construction and substantial improvements in flood zones must elevate or floodproof to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus one foot of freeboard. Flood zone designations appear on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Key flood-prone areas include portions of Mission Bay, SOMA, Islais Creek, and areas along the Bay shoreline. The SF Department of Building Inspection administers the floodplain management program. Flood insurance is mandatory for federally-backed mortgages in SFHAs.
Non-compliance can result in denial of building permits, increased flood insurance premiums, and potential loss of NFIP participation for the community. DBI enforces floodplain standards during permit review.
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See how San Francisco's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
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