Winter Haven, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

The City's floodplain management rules, ULDC Article V Division 1, apply to any development inside or partly inside a flood hazard area, covering subdivision of land, filling, grading, utility work, construction or demolition of buildings and structures exempt from the Florida Building Code, manufactured homes, tanks, recreational vehicles and swimming pools. The Flood Insurance Study for Polk County dated December 22, 2016, and its accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps, are adopted by reference as the minimum basis for establishing which parcels sit in a flood hazard area.

Before starting covered work, an owner or authorized agent must apply to the floodplain administrator, who under Sec. 21-258 is the City's senior design engineer, and obtain the required permit or approval; applications must describe the development, include a site plan or construction documents showing flood zones and elevations, and state the value of the proposed work. In other flood areas designated Zone X, new construction must set the lowest floor and exterior mechanical equipment at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade or at the 100-year elevation, whichever is higher; critical facilities such as schools, hospitals and emergency response installations must be elevated to base flood elevation plus two feet or the 500-year flood elevation, whichever is higher.

A permit becomes invalid if work does not begin within 180 consecutive days of issuance. Appeals of the floodplain administrator's decisions and variance requests go to the City's Development Special Magistrate, with further appeal to circuit court.