Santa Ana, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Chapter 7 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code implements the city's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, and § 7-15 sets the trigger: no construction or other development, including manufactured homes, may proceed within any special flood hazard area mapped under § 7-7 without first obtaining a development permit from the city on forms it provides. The application must include duplicate scaled plans showing the location, dimensions, and elevation of the site and any existing or proposed structures and material storage; the proposed location of water, sewer, and other utilities; grading information covering existing and proposed contours, fill, and drainage; the location of any regulatory floodway; base flood elevation data as specified in §§ 7-7 and 7-14(c); the proposed elevation of the lowest floor, including any basement, relative to mean sea level; and, for nonresidential buildings, the elevation to which the structure will be floodproofed under § 7-17(c)(2).

A floodproofing certification from a registered civil engineer or architect is required for nonresidential buildings, and crawl-space foundations must show the location and net area of flood-vent openings required by § 7-17(c)(3). Any watercourse alteration or relocation triggered by the project must also be described. The floodplain administrator designated under § 7-13 reviews and approves, conditionally approves, or denies the permit, and under § 7-26 must confirm the project minimizes flood damage, keeps utilities located to avoid flood impairment, and provides adequate drainage. Development proposals exceeding fifty lots or five acres additionally must include base flood elevation data with the tentative map under § 7-27 before the map can be approved.