Daytona Beach, FL Hurricane Preparedness: Flood Elevation (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum elevation
- 12 inches above road crown
- Survey deadline
- 20 days after slab poured
- Enforcement tool
- Building official's Stop Work Order
- Adopted by
- Ord. No. 16-203 (2016), amended 2022
Summary
Every new structure in Daytona Beach must set its finished floor at least 12 inches above the crown of the adjacent road, a citywide standard under LDC Section 6.23 that applies on top of, and yields to, any stricter Florida Building Code flood elevation requirement.
A minimum finished floor elevation height of 12 inches above the crown of the road adjacent to the front of the lot or parcel shall be required unless the City's engineering division approves other elevations. In case of conflict between the foregoing elevation requirement and any elevation requirements contained in the Florida Building Code, the more stringent requirement shall apply. In determining the minimum finished floor elevation relative to crown of the road, the applicant shall evaluate existing stormwater topography and establish the minimum finished floor elevation sufficient to protect the structure from flooding. A signed and sealed as-built survey of the finished floor elevation must be submitted to the City's permitting authority within 20 days after the slab has been poured. The building official shall be authorized to issue a stop work order if the as-built survey is not submitted within the time required.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 78 | Land Development Code: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
23 sets a baseline elevation rule that applies regardless of flood zone: the finished floor of a new structure must sit at least 12 inches above the crown of the road fronting the lot, unless the City's engineering division approves a different elevation. Where this 12-inch rule conflicts with a Florida Building Code flood elevation requirement, such as the base-flood-elevation-plus-1-foot freeboard that applies in flood hazard areas, the more stringent of the two controls. Before settling on a finished floor height, the applicant must evaluate the site's existing stormwater topography and set the elevation high enough to protect the structure from flooding, not simply meet the 12-inch minimum.
Compliance is checked on the back end: a signed and sealed as-built survey documenting the actual finished floor elevation must reach the City's permitting authority within 20 days after the slab is poured. If that survey does not arrive on time, the building official is authorized to issue a Stop Work Order, halting further construction until the elevation is verified. The rule was adopted by Ordinance No. 16-203 in 2016 and amended by Ordinance No. 2022-238 in 2022.
Violations & Fines
Missing the 20-day deadline to file the as-built finished-floor survey after the slab is poured triggers a Stop Work Order from the building official, stopping all further construction until an accurate survey is on file. Building below the required 12-inch elevation without engineering division approval is a Land Development Code violation subject to Article 10's civil citations and correction orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must a new house's floor be above the street in Daytona Beach?
What happens if I don't submit the finished-floor survey on time?
Does the Florida Building Code override the City's 12-inch rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Daytona Beach
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Daytona Beach to another location·View the Florida hurricane preparedness overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.