Building in a Floodplain?

Are you, your structure or your property that is adjacent to a river, creek, lake, stream, or other open waterway that is subject to flooding when there is a significant rain or seasonal run-off? If you are, you can always have your property verified for FREE before you buy or before any constriction starts.
Request an Interpolation from the County here.

A floodplain permit (at a minimum) is required before construction or development begins within any Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA); So ANY of the A Zones (A, AE, AO, etc…) or more commonly the 100-Year Floodplain. This means that there is a 1-in-100 chance in any given year that your property will flood. If it is in the 25-year floodplain, there is a 1-in-25 chance in any given year that your property will flood. The statistical chance of flooding is not changed by any one flooding event; but repeated flooding may result in the floodplain being recalculated. A 100-year floodplain is always wider than a 25-year floodplain, and the 25-year floodplain is contained within the 100-year floodplain.

Building Q&A

Can I build on a lot in the 100-year floodplain? The 25-year floodplain?

If you wish to build a home or place a manufactured home in the 100-year floodplain, you must file a permit application with a site plan. All construction that is allowed in floodplain areas must have the lowest floor elevation two feet (2’) above the 100-year floodplain elevation. Building construction is prohibited for projects that will not comply with all standards for construction in the 100-year floodplain per the Lincoln County Floodplain Regulations.

Are there special requirements in the floodplain?

Yes. Structures are generally required to be elevated above the base flood elevation and an engineering evaluation, along with an elevation certificate, is required to determine no adverse impact to upstream properties.

If I build an addition or deck outside my building, do I need to raise my existing building one foot above the 100-year floodplain?

Any addition must comply with all floodplain standards. If the value of the addition and remodeling of the home or business exceeds 50% of the value of the existing home or business, the existing structure(s) must be elevated two feet above the 100-year floodplain or flood-proofed according to the County's floodplain standards.

What is the penalty if I don't secure all my approvals?

You could be fined.
The County may require the removal of the improvements constructed without permits and inspections.

Why can’t I have a walkout/Daylight basement?

In the floodplain, basements are defined as any enclosed area having its floor below ground level on all sides. Walk-out or Daylight basements typically have at least one side at ground level and therefore are not considered basements.

Structures with walk-out/Daylight basements must have the lowest floor elevated to at least two (2) feet above the base flood elevation in order to be compliant with state and federal floodplain regulations.