Does West Allis, WI have its own flood zones ordinance?

No. West Allis, WI does not appear to have a local flood zones ordinance, Wisconsin state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from the Wisconsin statute.

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in West Allis

West Allis, WI Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in West Allis, WI, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Wis. Stat.: Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 mandates local floodplain zoning
Wis. Admin.: Wis. Admin. Code Chapter NR 116 sets minimum floodplain standards
Honey Creek: Honey Creek and Kinnickinnic River tributaries are principal flood sources
City Maintains: City maintains Flooding Tracker FEMA Floodplain GIS service
Insurance: City participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Restrictions: New residential structures prohibited in the regulatory floodway
116 Typically: NR 116 typically requires habitable floors elevated 2 ft above regional

FEMA Flood Zone Lookup

FEMA assigns every parcel in the U.S. a flood-hazard designation on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Zones starting with A or V are high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas where federally backed mortgages require NFIP flood insurance. Zone X indicates moderate-to-minimal risk, where insurance is optional but often recommended. Your specific zone determines insurance cost, build elevation, and permit requirements in West Allis, WI.

Zone	What it means	NFIP required?
A	High-risk flood area; 1% annual chance flood, no detailed analysis.	Yes
AE	High-risk; same as A but with established Base Flood Elevations.	Yes
AH	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft), usually ponding.	Yes
AO	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft) with sheet flow on sloping terrain.	Yes
V	High-risk coastal zone subject to wave action (no BFE).	Yes
VE	High-risk coastal zone with wave action and established BFEs.	Yes
X (shaded)	Moderate risk; between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood.	Recommended
X	Minimal risk; outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.	No

Look up West Allis, WI on the FEMA flood map

FEMA maps update periodically; verify zone before buying flood insurance or building.

Summary

The City of West Allis participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and regulates floodplain development in conformance with Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 116, plus 44 CFR Parts 59-72. Honey Creek (a tributary of the Menomonee River) and the Kinnickinnic River watershed run through the city and are the principal regulated waterways. The city maintains a public Flooding Tracker GIS service that shows the FEMA 100-year floodplain and floodlines for West Allis. Development in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas requires zoning approval; new residential structures are prohibited in the regulatory floodway, and habitable space in the flood fringe must be elevated to the flood protection elevation.

If any county, city or village does not adopt a reasonable and effective floodplain zoning ordinance within one year after hydraulic and engineering data adequate to formulate the ordinance becomes available, the department shall, upon petition of an interested state agency or a municipality or upon its own motion as soon as practicable and after public hearing, determine and fix by order the limits of any or all floodplains within a county, city or village within which serious damage may occur.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Under Wis. Stat. Sec. 30, every Wisconsin municipality with mapped floodplain or NFIP participation must adopt and enforce a floodplain zoning ordinance meeting the minimum standards of Chapter NR 116, Wis. Admin. Code, and 44 CFR Parts 59-72. gov) that delineates the 100 Year Floodplain Areas and 100 Year Flood Line for the city. Honey Creek - the subject of long-running flood-mitigation concerns documented by SEWRPC, MMSD, and the City of Milwaukee - and tributaries of the Kinnickinnic River system are the principal flood sources within West Allis.

13). gov) and the Wisconsin DNR Floodplain Mapping Program are the authoritative sources for the effective FIRM panels covering Milwaukee County and West Allis. The Wisconsin DNR reviews and approves local floodplain ordinance amendments before they take effect.

Violations & Fines

Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30(2) and NR 116.21 require enforcement of local floodplain zoning. 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 citation, daily forfeitures, removal/restoration orders, and loss of NFIP eligibility for the property. Misrepresenting elevation data on a permit application is independently actionable. Failure of a community to enforce can lead to suspension from the NFIP under 44 CFR Part 59.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which waterways drive flood risk in West Allis?

Honey Creek (a Menomonee River tributary) is the most prominent flood source in West Allis, with documented flood events. The Kinnickinnic River watershed also affects portions of the city. Both are mapped in the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area shown on the city's Flooding Tracker GIS layer.

What law authorizes West Allis floodplain regulation?

Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 requires every Wisconsin municipality with mapped floodplain or NFIP participation to adopt floodplain zoning meeting Wis. Admin. Code Chapter NR 116 and 44 CFR Parts 59-72. The Wisconsin DNR oversees compliance and FEMA maintains the Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

Can I build a new home in the Honey Creek floodway in West Allis?

No. Under Wis. Admin. Code NR 116, new residential structures are prohibited in the regulatory floodway. In the flood fringe, habitable floors must be elevated to the flood protection elevation, generally the regional flood elevation plus 2 feet of freeboard.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in West Allis

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSignificant Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions

All West Allis rules

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