Surry County, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Surry County's Floodplain Administrator, housed in the Planning and Development Department, reviews every floodplain development permit application against the county's FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), effective November 18, 2016. Under § 154.017-02, an applicant must present a plot plan showing the boundary of the special flood hazard area, the flood zone designation, floodway or non-encroachment boundaries, the base flood elevation where one has been set, and certification by a registered land surveyor or professional engineer. New construction and substantial improvements must also show proposed elevation methods, and non-residential structures seeking flood-proofing instead of elevation need a FEMA Form 81-65 certificate from a licensed engineer or architect.

The permit itself, issued under § 154.017-03, must specify the required flood protection elevation, state that no fill may encroach into a floodway, and, where applicable, limit below-elevation enclosures to parking, building access, or limited storage. Section 154.017-01(G) makes compliance mandatory before any structure or land is located, extended, converted, altered, or developed within a mapped special flood hazard area. If the Floodplain Administrator finds a violation, § 154.017-04 requires written notice to the owner, a hearing within ten days, and, following a finding of violation, a written corrective order giving the owner 60 to 120 days to remedy the problem unless the danger to life or property is imminent.

An owner may appeal a corrective order to the Board of Adjustment within 30 days; if there is no appeal and the owner still fails to comply, the code makes that failure a misdemeanor punishable at the court's discretion.