Yakima, WA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

YMC Chapter 15.27 (Critical Areas) is the city's adopted critical-areas ordinance under RCW 36.70A.060 of the Growth Management Act and is also the city's NFIP-implementing ordinance. It identifies the city's critical areas as 'flood hazard areas, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, wetlands, geologically hazardous areas, and areas with a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water.' The Floodplain Overlay (FO) district in YMC Chapter 15.03 states that 'all development in the floodplain overlay shall conform to the requirements and standards of the underlying zoning district, and the city of Yakima's adopted critical area (YMC 15.27) and shoreline master program (YMC Title 17) ordinances,' with the stated purpose 'to protect natural drainage systems associated with floodways and floodplains; ensure that new development will not affect the flood elevations in surrounding areas; and ensure adequate protection of life, health, and property from flood events.' The regulated area is the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) — the 1% annual chance (100-year) floodplain — as shown on the current effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Yakima County. Any new construction, substantial improvement, fill, grading, or placement of a manufactured home in the SFHA requires a floodplain development permit issued by the Planning Division (City Hall, 129 N. 2nd Street). Critical-areas review also folds in shoreline jurisdiction along the Yakima River and Naches River under YMC Title 17 (Shoreline Master Program) and RCW 90.58 (Shoreline Management Act). The 1996 and 2009 Yakima/Naches flood events are the recent benchmarks for community awareness and FEMA map updates.