Minnesota Floodplain Management Act Statewide Standards

Under the Floodplain Management Act, the Department of Natural Resources designates flood-prone areas and certifies local ordinances. Communities with identified flood hazards must adopt ordinances regulating placement, elevation (typically one foot above base flood elevation), and floodproofing of structures, prohibit obstructions in the floodway, and require permits for fill and substantial improvements. DNR review is required before adoption or amendment of floodplain ordinances. Failure to adopt or enforce results in NFIP suspension, eliminating federal flood insurance availability. Local rules may be stricter but cannot fall below the state model ordinance baseline.

Building in a regulated floodway, unpermitted fill, or non-elevated structures can trigger DNR enforcement, removal orders, and loss of NFIP coverage.