Broward County enforces FEMA flood zone requirements with 1 ft freeboard above base flood elevation for residential and higher freeboard for critical facilities. Elevation certificates required from licensed surveyors.
Flood elevation in Broward County is regulated under the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and county floodplain management ordinance. Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) zones A, AE, AH, AO, and coastal V zones cover large portions of the county from the Atlantic coastline to interior C-canal communities. New construction, substantial improvements, and substantial damage repairs (greater than 50 percent of market value) must elevate the lowest floor to or above the base flood elevation (BFE) plus Broward freeboard of typically 1 ft for residential. Critical facilities including hospitals, fire stations, and schools require 2-3 ft freeboard. Coastal V zones require pile or column foundations with breakaway walls below the BFE and no obstruction below the flood level. Elevation certificates from Florida-licensed surveyors are required at foundation, floor, and final inspections. Manufactured homes must be anchored and elevated. Non-compliance jeopardizes flood insurance and may force reconstruction at significant cost.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Section 17-7(1) bars amplified sound from residential property that is plainly audible for one minute or longer at 25 feet from the property line (10 p.m.-7 ...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Section 17-7(4) makes it unlawful to operate construction, repair, alteration, or demolition equipment Monday through Saturday before 8:00 a.m. or after 7:00...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale Code Section 17-8(7) expressly exempts 'all noises coming from the normal operations of an aircraft' from the city noise ordinance. Aircraft ...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale Code Chapter 17 (Noise Control) caps residential outdoor sound at 60 dBA / 70 dBC from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dBA / 60 dBC from 10:00...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale addresses abandoned vehicles under Chapter 26 (Traffic and Parking) and Chapter 18 (Nuisances). Vehicles left unattended on public property f...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale regulates retaining walls under the ULDR and the Florida Building Code. Retaining walls over 4 feet in height require building permits with s...
See how Fort Lauderdale's flood elevation rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.