New Hanover County, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Sec. 29-32 applies the floodplain article to every development within areas of special flood hazard in the county's regulatory jurisdiction, and Sec. 29-61 adopts by reference the FEMA Flood Hazard Boundary Maps #370168-0050A, 370168B-0075A and 370168-00100A, effective April 17, 1978, along with the county's Flood Insurance Study of the same date, as the basis for those areas. Sec. 29-34 has required full compliance with the article for any structure located, extended, converted or altered, or land developed, since the article's effective date of April 3, 1978.

Sec. 29-62 puts the building inspector in charge of clearance for structures: at building permit issuance, the inspector stamps the permit to state either that the proposed structure is within a floodprone area and complies with the article's standards, or that it is not within a floodprone area and is exempt, signing and dating the stamp as official certification; the county engineer certifies other, non-structure development the same way. Sec. 29-39 and Sec. 29-40 give the building inspector and county engineer the job of enforcing the article, including verifying and recording the elevation of the lowest floor of new or substantially improved structures, obtaining floodproofing certification from a licensed engineer or architect, and, in coastal high-hazard areas, obtaining certification that a structure is securely anchored to withstand hurricane wave wash.

Sec. 29-68 lets anyone denied a permit or aggrieved by an interpretation appeal to the county board of adjustment, which weighs eleven listed factors including danger to life and property, before granting a variance, and a further appeal can go to the general court of justice within 30 days.