FEMA flood zone rules in Suffolk County, MA — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Suffolk County has significant flood exposure, particularly in Revere (598 repetitive loss structures) and Boston's East Boston/waterfront neighborhoods. All four cities participate in NFIP. Zone AE covers coastal and low-lying areas throughout the county. MA building code requires BFE + 1 ft elevation. No county-level floodplain authority — each city manages its own floodplain program.
Suffolk County's entire Atlantic coast, Boston Harbor shoreline, and low-lying inland areas carry Zone AE (SFHA) designations. Cities must enforce floodplain management ordinances as a condition of NFIP participation. Massachusetts Building Code Design Flood Elevation: BFE + 1 ft (A Zones), BFE + 2 ft (V Zones). Sea level rise must be incorporated into coastal project design per 310 CMR 9.37. County government was abolished 1999; each city administers its own NFIP compliance.
Building in flood zones without proper permits violates local and federal requirements. Can affect community NFIP standing.
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See how Suffolk County's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
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