Nueces County, TX Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

315, governs unincorporated land only; Corpus Christi and Port Aransas administer their own floodplain codes. Article 3, Section A applies the ordinance to all areas of special flood hazard within the county's jurisdiction, based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood Insurance Study for Nueces County dated October 13, 2022, and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Flood Boundary-Floodway Maps, adopted by reference under Article 3, Section B. Before any structure or land use changes within that mapped area, Article 3, Section C requires a Development Permit, and Article 3, Section D bars locating, altering, or changing the use of a structure or land without full compliance with the ordinance and other applicable regulations.

The Nueces County Engineer serves as the Floodplain Administrator under Article 4, Section A, reviewing and approving or denying every development permit application, checking that federal, state, and local approvals (including Clean Water Act Section 404 permits) are in hand, and interpreting flood hazard boundary disputes. Article 6, Section A blocks final utility connections until the County Engineer signs off that the building complies with the ordinance. Where floodway data has not been designated, the Administrator must deny new construction, fill, or substantial improvement in Zones A1-30 and AE unless the applicant demonstrates the cumulative effect will not raise the base flood water surface elevation more than one foot at any point in the county.