Coconut Creek, FL Hurricane Preparedness: Flood Elevation (2026)

Section 10-70 sets five conditions for building below the base flood elevation. The structure must be used only for parking or storage. In special flood hazard areas (zone A/AE) other than coastal high hazard areas it must be one story and not larger than 600 square feet, and it must have flood openings that meet Section R322.2 of the Florida Building Code, Residential. In every case it must be anchored to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement from flood loads. Materials below the base flood elevation plus one foot must be flood damage-resistant, and mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, including plumbing fixtures, must be elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot. The section was adopted by Ordinance No. 2021-009 on April 22, 2021.

The elevation datum matters. Section 10-63 defines the base flood as a flood with a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, and the base flood elevation as the elevation of that flood, including wave height, relative to NGVD 1929, NAVD 1988 or the datum on the FIRM. Where a mapped area has no published elevation and no other adequate data exist, section 10-32 lets the floodplain administrator specify a base flood elevation two feet above the highest adjacent grade. In zone AO the design flood elevation is the highest existing grade at the building perimeter plus the mapped depth, or two feet where the map gives none.

A structure that serves any use other than parking or storage, or that exceeds the 600 square foot limit in zone A/AE, falls outside the permission this section gives for building below the base flood elevation. Section 10-23 requires an approval from the floodplain administrator before any development in a flood hazard area, and section 10-41 sends variance requests to the planning and zoning board for a recommendation and to the City Commission for the final decision.