West Covina, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

West Covina adopted its floodplain management regulations by Ordinance No. 2134 to implement FEMA's Flood Insurance Study dated December 14, 2000, along with the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps (FBFMs), which the city keeps on file at City Hall, 1444 West Garvey Avenue South, in the Department of Public Works, Room 215. Those maps, and all later amendments, define the areas of special flood hazard, mudslide hazard, and flood-related erosion hazard the article covers. Before any construction or development begins in a mapped hazard area, the owner must obtain a development permit from the city engineer, who serves as floodplain administrator.

The application must include a site plan with spot ground elevations at the building corners, the location of water, sewer, and utility lines, the base flood elevation if known, and foundation design details, including elevation of the lowest floor and any floodway location. The floodplain administrator reviews every permit to confirm the site is reasonably safe from flooding and that the project won't raise the base flood elevation by more than one foot anywhere in the city. Anyone who disagrees with the administrator's interpretation of a flood zone boundary or permit decision can appeal to the West Covina City Council, which hears and decides both appeals and variance requests.