Skokie, IL Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Skokie participates in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Cook County identify Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) along the North Shore Channel (the channelized North Branch of the Chicago River, which forms portions of Skokie's eastern boundary) and in some historic drainage areas. Development in SFHAs requires a floodplain development permit, elevation of new habitable floors to at least 1 foot above base flood elevation (the Village's freeboard standard), and flood-resistant materials below flood elevation. Fill in the regulatory floodway is restricted. Substantial improvement triggers (typically when improvements exceed 50% of structure value) require bringing the entire structure into floodplain compliance. Skokie's history includes significant urban flooding events beyond mapped SFHAs, particularly in 2008, 2013, and 2020, driven by sewer capacity rather than riverine flooding. The Village has invested in sewer separation and flood mitigation programs and offers overhead sewer assistance programs to help residents reduce basement backup risk. Federal flood insurance is available to any Skokie property through the NFIP regardless of whether the property is in an SFHA.