Texas Statewide Rule
Texas Requires Every City and County to Regulate Flood Zones
Key Facts
- Statute
- Water Code Sec. 16.3145
- State coordinator
- Texas Water Development Board
- Cities adopt
- Flood damage prevention ordinance
- Counties adopt
- Commissioners court order
- Compliance deadline
- January 1, 2001
Summary
Texas Water Code Section 16.3145 orders the governing body of every Texas city and county to adopt the floodplain-management ordinances or orders needed to qualify for the National Flood Insurance Program.
The governing body of each city and county shall adopt ordinances or orders, as appropriate, necessary for the city or county to be eligible to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, not later than January 1, 2001.
Full Breakdown
Section 16.3145 makes floodplain regulation non-optional in Texas: each city council must pass a flood damage prevention ordinance and each commissioners court must pass an equivalent order to keep the jurisdiction in the National Flood Insurance Program. The Texas Water Development Board coordinates NFIP participation and publishes three model orders/ordinances communities adopt and tailor to their FEMA flood maps. Under those local rules, any development in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area needs a floodplain development permit, and new construction must be elevated to or above the base flood elevation.
Violations & Penalties
A community that does not adopt and enforce compliant floodplain rules is suspended or non-participating in the NFIP, so its residents cannot buy federally backed flood insurance and lose FEMA grant aid for insurable structures after a flood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Texas county have to regulate floodplains?
Do I need a permit to build in a Texas flood zone?
What happens if my city ignores the requirement?
Sources
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