York County, VA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in York County, VA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Governing FIRM date
- January 16, 2015
- Permit required
- Zoning certificate under Sec. 24.1-107
- Manufactured homes
- Barred except pre-7/19/1990 parks
- Street elevation minimum
- 6.5 feet above mean sea level
- Enforcement
- Floodplain Administrator (zoning administrator or designee)
Summary
In York County, Virginia, no land may be developed or structure built, moved, or altered inside the Floodplain Management Area (FMA) overlay without a zoning certificate under Sec. 24.1-107. The overlay applies to FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas mapped on the 2015 Flood Insurance Rate Map and layers extra rules on top of the base zoning district.
The requirements set forth in this section are adopted pursuant to the authority granted to localities by Section § 15.2-2280 of the Code of Virginia. ... No land shall hereafter be developed and no structure shall be located, relocated, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, or structurally altered within the floodplain management overlay district except in full compliance with the terms and provisions of this section. All uses, activities, and development occurring within any floodplain management overlay district shall be undertaken only upon the issuance of a zoning certificate, as described in section 24.1-107 of this chapter.
Full Breakdown
York County adopted its floodplain rules under Va. Code § 15.2-2280 to keep residents eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program. The FMA overlay district covers Zone AE and A/A99 areas on the county's Flood Insurance Rate Map dated January 16, 2015, plus Coastal AE zones with 1.5-3 foot wave action (LiMWA) and VE/V Coastal High Hazard zones. Sec. 24.1-373(b)(5) bars any development, relocation, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, or structural alteration in the overlay except in full compliance with the section, and requires a zoning certificate before any use, activity, or development proceeds.
Landfills, junkyards, outdoor storage of inoperative vehicles, most manufactured homes (except in a pre-July 19, 1990 manufactured home park), surface mines, hazardous-materials manufacturing or bulk storage, and outdoor storage of buoyant, flammable, or explosive material are specifically prohibited in the FMA. Subdivision and site plans within the overlay must show the 100-year flood boundary, 2-foot contour intervals (1-foot near the flood boundary), and ground elevations at building corners, and must be sealed by a licensed surveyor or engineer. New public or private streets must have a finished centerline elevation no lower than 6.5 feet above mean sea level.
The Floodplain Administrator, who is the zoning administrator or a designee appointed by the county administrator, reviews permit applications, interprets floodplain boundaries, and keeps records in the Office of Building Regulations.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Sec. 24.1-373 are pursued under Sec. 24.1-109 (administration, enforcement, and penalties) and Article VI of Chapter 7.1, Building Regulations. A structure lacking a required elevation certificate or other compliance documentation is presumed to be in violation until the owner produces it. The Floodplain Administrator can issue notices of violation or stop-work orders and require permit holders to take corrective action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build in York County's floodplain overlay?
What land uses are banned in York County's floodplain overlay?
Who administers York County's flood ordinance?
Can an existing manufactured home stay in the floodplain overlay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in York County
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