FEMA flood zone rules in Somerville, MA — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Parts of Somerville near the Mystic River and Alewife Brook are FEMA Zone AE. New construction in the floodplain must elevate 2 feet above BFE.
Somerville participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and regulates floodplain development through the Floodplain Overlay District in the Somerville Zoning Ordinance. FEMA flood maps (FIRM panels for Middlesex County, currently effective) show Zone AE along the Mystic River, Alewife Brook, and low-lying parts of East Somerville and Assembly Square; limited Zone X-shaded covers adjacent moderate-risk blocks. New construction and substantial improvements (any work exceeding 50 percent of the building's pre-improvement market value) in Zone AE must elevate the lowest floor at least 2 feet above the Base Flood Elevation (freeboard), use flood-resistant materials below BFE, install flood vents in enclosed areas, and anchor to resist buoyancy. Mortgage lenders require flood insurance in SFHAs. Owners should check FEMA Map Service Center for exact zone designation.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle flood zones.
See how Somerville's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
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