FEMA flood zone rules in Sun Prairie, WI — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Sun Prairie participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and regulates floodplain development under Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 116, plus 44 CFR Parts 59-72. Koshkonong Creek is the principal regulated waterway through the city, with secondary drainage to Token Creek (northwest) and the Maunesha River (northeast). Hydric soils, spring snowmelt, and proximity to Koshkonong Creek make portions of the city flood-prone, as demonstrated by the June 2008 flood event. New residential structures are prohibited in the regulatory floodway, and structures in the flood fringe must be elevated to the flood protection elevation. Floodplain permits and FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps are administered through the city zoning office and the Wisconsin DNR.
Wisconsin requires every municipality with mapped floodplain, or that participates in the NFIP, to adopt a floodplain zoning ordinance meeting the minimum standards of Chapter NR 116 (Wis. Admin. Code) and 44 CFR Parts 59-72, under the authority of Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30. The City of Sun Prairie (Dane County, with a small portion in Columbia County) administers floodplain regulations consistent with these state standards. The principal regulated waterway is Koshkonong Creek, which the USGS monitors at gage 05427250 (Koshkonong Creek at Sun Prairie). Drainage in the city flows northwest into Token Creek (Yahara River watershed), northeast to the Maunesha River (Crawfish/Rock River system), and primarily south back into Koshkonong Creek. After the catastrophic June 2008 rainfall, identified by the National Weather Service as one of the five most significant floods in Wisconsin history, the city retained MSA Professional Services to study causes and recommend stormwater infrastructure improvements. Under NR 116 standards, the regulatory floodway prohibits new residential structures and most fill, while the flood fringe allows development only if the lowest floor of habitable space is elevated to or above the flood protection elevation (the regional flood elevation plus freeboard, typically 2 feet under NR 116.13). Floodplain permits must be issued by the local zoning administrator before any building permit may be issued, with Wisconsin DNR oversight. Authoritative maps are available through FEMA's Map Service Center, the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, and the Wisconsin DNR Floodplain Mapping program.
Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30(2) and NR 116.21 require enforcement of local floodplain zoning. Violations - including filling, structural development, or occupancy of habitable space in the floodway, or building below the flood protection elevation in the flood fringe - can result in citations, daily forfeitures, removal or restoration orders, and loss of NFIP eligibility for the property. Misrepresenting elevation data on a permit application is independently actionable. Community failure to enforce can lead to suspension from the NFIP under 44 CFR Part 59.
Sun Prairie, WI
Sun Prairie regulates amplified music under the general noise ordinance. Sound amplification permits available for events. WI Stat. §947.01 applies.
Sun Prairie, WI
Sun Prairie considers excessive barking a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. WI Stat. §174 covers dog regulation statewide.
Sun Prairie, WI
Sun Prairie enforces quiet hours typically 10 PM to 7 AM. Noise disturbances enforceable under WI Stat. §947.01 (Disorderly Conduct).
Sun Prairie, WI
Sun Prairie enforces alternate-side parking November through March and 48-hour maximum street parking. Snow emergencies declared during heavy snowfall ban pa...
Sun Prairie, WI
Sun Prairie restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight, size, and signage limits apply. Overnight heavy truck storage prohibited.
Sun Prairie, WI
Sun Prairie requires vehicles parked on improved surfaces. Front lawn parking prohibited. Driveway modifications require permits.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Dane County.
See how other cities in Dane County handle flood zones.
See how Sun Prairie's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.