Community Resources
Quick Guide for Floodplain Management
Illustrated guide for floodplain management in Florida, available for desktop printing and an Adobe® Slideshow. The Quick Guide is intended to provide an overview for non-technical local staff and is useful to refresh what local floodplain administrators already know about managing flood hazard areas.
Post-Disaster Guidance for Floodplain Administrators
Floodplain Management Performance Measures
Technical Bulletins
Manufactured Homes
Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage
Guidance for Some Activities
- Florida Guidance for Additions to Buildings
- FEMA guidance for anchoring fuel tanks
- Interim Pool Guidance 5/28/2020
Local Coordination Resources
- Model Inter-Local Agreement for Floodplain Management (2010)
- Community Responsibilities for Participation in the NFIP
Letters of Map Change
ACTION 1. Plan ahead to communicate with elected officials and citizens. Identifies elements for a communications plan. Encourages working with other community officials, public information office and Emergency Manager to fill in the details.
ACTION 2. Assess post-disaster needs and request assistance. Provides an overview of the State Mutual Aid Agreement and Emergency Management Assistance Compact so community officials will know how to request assistance from within and outside the State.
ACTION 3. Document high water marks. Describes how to collect and document high water marks and post data in real time on FDEM’s GIS website.
ACTION 4. Make substantial damage determinations and use FEMA’s Substantial Damage Estimator. Explains conducting SI/SD determinations and using FEMA’s Substantial Damage Estimator (SDE). The SDE is a powerful tool that is effective to collect data on damaged buildings to make substantial damage determinations.
ACTION 5. Understand NFIP claims and Increased Cost of Compliance. Describes how property owners who have NFIP flood insurance policies on buildings substantially damaged by flooding may qualify for Increased Cost of Compliance claim payments to help bring buildings into compliance. Links to FEMA’s brochures and FAQs.
ACTION 6. Identify post-disaster and mitigation funding assistance. Provides an overview of post-disaster and mitigation funding programs and other sources of funding. Refers to the Local Mitigation Strategy plans for details on local project priorities.
Since the 2010 edition, the flood provisions of the Florida Building Code (FBC) meet or exceed the minimum NFIP requirements for buildings and structures. Florida communities rely on the FBC and local floodplain management ordinances to fulfill the requirements for participation in the NFIP.
Every 3 years, the Florida Building Commission develops the next edition of the FBC. In accordance with Florida Statute, communities may amend the FBC to be more restrictive. Local amendments for flood higher standards do not sunset every three years.
Guidance and instructions for amending local floodplain management ordinances and guidance for higher standards that require local amendments to the Florida Building Code are available on the Guidance, Ordinance Amendments, FBC Amendments and Sample Forms page.
7th Edition (2020) Florida Building Code
- Flood provisions of the 7th Edition Florida Building Code
- Highlights of ASCE 24-14 Flood Resistant Design and Construction (FEMA)
6th Edition (2017) Florida Building Code
- Flood provisions of the 6th Edition Florida Building Code
- 6th Ed Changes from the 5th Ed FBC
- Highlights of ASCE 24-14 Flood Resistant Design and Construction (FEMA)
- Flood Resistant Construction and the 6th Edition FBC (Fact Sheet by Building A Safer Florida, BASF)
- Revised CCCL Requirements in the 6th Edition FBC (Fact Sheet by Building A Safer Florida, BASF)
5th Edition (2014) Florida Building Code
The SFMO must review draft amendments at least 30 days before presenting the amendments to planning boards or elected officials. Instructions explain how to send to the SFMO.
Guidance
- Professional Land Surveyors and Mappers Authorized to Certify Elevation Data (Nov. 2021)
- Swimming Pools, Spas and Similar Water Features in Flood Hazard Areas (Nov. 2021)
- Attached Garage or Enclosure Floor/Slabs and Flood Opening (Dec. 2020)
Floodplain Management Ordinance Amendments
- Accessory structures (FEMA policy for wet floodproofing) – (Rev. Nov. 2021)
- Agricultural structures (FEMA policy for wet floodproofing) - (Rev. Nov. 2021)
- Manufactured homes:
- Remove 36-inch option (CRS Class 8 Prerequisite) - (Rev. Nov. 2021)
- Not permitted in SFHA/Community (Rev. Nov. 2021)
- Not permitted in floodway, V, CAZ (Rev. Nov. 2021)
Florida Building Code Amendments for Higher Standards
Sec. 553.75(4), Florida Statute, allows communities to adopt local amendments to the FBC. Sec. 553.73(5), F.S., specifically permits higher standards for floodplain management that, if properly adopted, do not sunset every three years.
- General Instructions for Adding Higher Standards
- Additional Elevation (Freeboard)
- Cumulative Substantial Improvement
- Coastal A Zone (regulating as Zone V)
- Repetitive Loss Flooding (as part of substantial damage)
- Enclosures (prohibit or no partitions)
- Enclosures (limit size)
- Enclosures (nonconversion agreement)
- Require RDPs to design foundations for dwellings
- Prohibit use of fill to elevate buildings
Sample Forms
- SI/SD Sample Notice (from FEMA P-758)-(2010)
- Zone V Design Certificate-(2015)
- Declaration of Land Restriction (Non-conversion Agreement)-(2016)
- Agreement to Submit Elevation Certificate-(2015)
