Which ordinance is right for my locality?
The ordinance requirement is determined by the kind of flood hazard identification map that's been provided to your community by the Federal Insurance Administrator. Maps were done by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) before 1979. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has done maps since then.More detailed flood maps call for more detailed community floodplain management regulations. The National Flood Insurance Program Regulations - CFR, Part 60.3 - further tie the type and scope of minimum local regulations to the map types.
Your community should adopt a 60.3(a) Floodplain Management Ordinance (PDF) if the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Hazard Boundary Map for your town:
- Does not indicate any mapped special flood hazard area (SFHA) in your community.
Your community should adopt a 60.3(b) Floodplain Management Ordinance (PDF) if the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Hazard Boundary Map for your town:
- is an Approximate Method Map without base flood elevations. The Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are identified with a capital letter A without any number following the letter (i.e., A Zone).
- if there are any flood elevations anywhere on any of the map panels, even though the majority of the zones are A zones then it is not a (b) community).
- is listed in the FEMA Community Status Book as Minimally flood prone (an M is next to the community's map effective date in the Status Book).
Your community should adopt a 60.3(c) Floodplain Management Ordinance (PDF) if the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map for your town:
- if it has base flood elevations having Special Flood Hazard Areas identified as an AE, A1-30, AH, and/or AO Zone.
- if there are base flood elevations anywhere on any of the map panels, your community needs this ordinance, even if some panels may not have AE, A1-30, AH or AO and all zones are labeled on the panel as A.
- has no identified regulatory floodway or coastal high hazard area.
Your community should adopt a 60.3(d) Floodplain Management Ordinance (PDF) if the effective FIRM for your town:
- has any Flood Hazard Areas identified with an AE, A1-A30, AH and/or AO Zone, and
- has the "floodway" portion of the floodplain delineated on the FIRM with a cross hatched pattern, or
- has a separate set of Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps delineating the floodway portion of the floodplain as a non shaded area.
Your community should adopt a 60.3(e) Floodplain Management Ordinance (PDF) if the effective FIRM for your town:
- has any coastal Special Flood Hazard Areas identified as a VE or V1-30 Zone
If you have any questions concerning which type of ordinance is appropriate for your community or would like general information about floodplain management, please contact the Virginia Floodplain Management Program staff: (804) 371-6135, charleybanks@dcr.virginia.gov; (804) 371-6137, alison.meehan@dcr.virginia.gov.