Surprise, AZ Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Surprise, AZ, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Floodplain administrator
- City engineer
- Governing regulations
- Maricopa County Floodplain Regulations, 6-25-2014
- Flood insurance study adopted
- Maricopa County FIS/FIRMs, 10-16-2013
- County statute basis
- A.R.S. §§ 48-3609, 48-3610
Summary
Surprise did not set up its own floodplain program. The city adopts Maricopa County's Floodplain Regulations and Flood Insurance Study by reference, and the city engineer serves as the NFIP floodplain administrator coordinating with the county flood control district on any development in a special flood hazard area.
A.The city elects not to assume the responsibility of floodplain management from the flood control district of the county as provided for in A.R.S. §§ 48-3609 and 48-3610. The city engineer is designated as the NFIP [National Flood Insurance Program] floodplain administrator for the city, is responsible for coordinating with the county flood control district, and will serve as the community point of contact on NFIP issues for county, state and federal officials. ... A.Those public records entitled "Flood Insurance Study for Maricopa County, Arizona and Incorporated Areas" dated October 16, 2013 with accompanying FIRMs dated October 16, 2013 and all subsequent amendments and/or revisions...are hereby adopted by reference as the basis for establishing the special flood hazard areas in the city. ... A.That public record designated as the "Floodplain Regulations for Maricopa County" dated June 25, 2014 and all subsequent amendments and/or revisions, copies of which shall be kept on file in the office of the city clerk, is hereby adopted as the legal basis for implementing floodplain management in this community.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 104, Article IV of the Land Development Ordinance handles the National Flood Insurance Program locally. Sec. §§ 48-3609 and 48-3610, and instead designates the city engineer as the NFIP floodplain administrator, who coordinates with the county flood control district and serves as the point of contact for county, state and federal NFIP officials. Sec. 2 adopts the "Flood Insurance Study for Maricopa County, Arizona and Incorporated Areas," dated October 16, 2013, along with its accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps and all later amendments, as the basis for establishing special flood hazard areas within the city, noting the FIS/FIRMs are only the minimum area of applicability and may be supplemented by other studies.
Sec. 3 then adopts the county's own "Floodplain Regulations for Maricopa County," dated June 25, 2014 and its subsequent amendments, as the legal basis for implementing floodplain management within Surprise. Copies of all three documents are kept on file with the city clerk. Practically, this means anyone proposing development within a mapped special flood hazard area in Surprise must satisfy the county floodplain regulations administered through the city engineer's office, rather than a Surprise-specific floodplain code.
Violations & Fines
Because the county regulations are adopted by reference as the operative floodplain code, a Surprise floodplain violation is prosecuted the same as any other adopted-code violation under Chapter 105: work done without the required floodplain use permit or in violation of the adopted county floodplain regulations exposes the responsible party to civil or criminal penalties and can block the certificate of occupancy until the floodplain administrator confirms compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Surprise have its own floodplain code?
Who do I contact about building in a Surprise flood zone?
What maps determine if my Surprise property is in a flood zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Surprise
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Flood Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle flood zones.