Albemarle County, VA Hurricane Preparedness: Flood Elevation (2026)

1 defines 'freeboard elevation' as the base flood elevation plus one foot, the safety margin the Flood Hazard Overlay District builds in above FEMA's mapped base flood elevation. 15(B), any substantial improvement of a residential building, including a manufactured home, in Zones A, A1-30, AE or AH where base flood elevations have been established must have its lowest floor, including the basement, elevated to or above that freeboard elevation. Non-residential buildings get a second option: elevate to the freeboard elevation, or flood-proof so every wall and component below that elevation is watertight and engineered to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads, certified by a registered professional engineer or architect.

15(C) requires the lowest floor to sit at or above the flood depth number shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map, or at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is printed. 12(D) requires the owner to submit an elevation certificate on FEMA's form, or the county's own form, showing the lowest floor is elevated at or above the freeboard elevation, plus a flood-proofing certificate for any non-residential building that chose that route. 17, but the board must warn in writing that a variance to build below base flood elevation raises flood-insurance premiums and increases risk to life and property.