Woodland, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Woodland's floodplain management regulations, codified at Chapter 15.08 of the Municipal Code, apply to every area of special flood hazard mapped in the City's Flood Insurance Study and accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps dated April 2, 2002, on file at City Hall, 300 First Street. Before any construction, fill, grading, or land-use change begins within one of those zones, the applicant must obtain a development permit under Section 15.08.130, submitting scaled plans showing the elevation of the lowest floor relative to mean sea level, any proposed floodproofing, and a description of how a watercourse would be altered or relocated.

The Community Development Director serves as Floodplain Administrator under Section 15.08.140 and reviews every permit to confirm State and Federal approvals are in hand, the site is reasonably safe from flooding, and the project will not raise the base flood water surface elevation by more than one foot at any point. Floodways identified within the special flood hazard area carry an added restriction under Section 15.08.220: encroachments, fill, and new construction are prohibited unless a registered professional engineer certifies no increase in flood elevation will result.

Subdivisions of more than 50 lots or five acres, whichever is less, must identify the flood hazard area and elevation of the base flood on both preliminary and final maps. A person aggrieved by a Floodplain Administrator determination, including a boundary dispute between a mapped line and actual field conditions, may appeal to the Woodland City Council under Section 15.08.160. The regulations exist to satisfy Government Code Sections 65302, 65560 and 65800 and to keep the City eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program.