Flood Hazard
Purpose
Snohomish County is one of nearly 20,000 communities across the United States that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. This program requires the county to adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances and development regulations to reduce future flood damage. In return, the National Flood Insurance Program makes federally-supported flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in Snohomish County’s flood hazard areas
The basic premise of this program is that it is safer and less costly to minimize flood damage through appropriate development codes in flood hazard areas, and to insure against future flood damage instead of relying on more costly disaster-relief assistance after a flood event.
What are Flood Hazard Areas?
Areas that flood are given different designations such as floodway fringe, density fringe and hydraulic floodway these areas are mapped and have specific provisions and requirements for development. The designations are based on the Federal Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and the Digital Federal Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRM). The maps with the most restrictive requirements will be applied to the proposed development. These maps are based on detailed inter-agency collaboration and form the standards for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Information about 2020 code update related to Special Flood Hazard Areas:
- Flood Insurance Study and Rate Maps Ordinance 20-029 (June 2020)
- July 28, 2020 Planning Commission Minutes - Includes briefing on Special Flood Hazard Areas
For more information about flood hazard areas or development in these areas please see the information packet and bulletin links below.
- DFIRM Letter and Information (PDF)
- Flood Awareness Page
- Flood Hazard Areas (Assistance Bulletin #42) (PDF)
- Mapping the Flood Risk
Is my project in a flood hazard area?
PDS Map Portal (click to view instructions for navigating to 2019 Flood Maps layer)
Flood Hazard Permit
Projects proposed within a designated flood hazard area will require a Flood Hazard Permit and accompanying elevation certificate. A separate permit and elevation certificate is required for each individual structure on a parcel.
Requirements
Fill out Flood Hazard Permit Application Package (PDF) including the following:
- Application
- Site Plan
- Elevation Certificates
Shoreline Requirements
Some properties within the flood plains may have additional shoreline requirements. Please view our Shoreline Requirements page for additional information.
Additional Requirements
The flood hazard permit process includes preparation of a Floodplain Habitat Assessment and Mitigation (PDF) to evaluate development impacts in frequently flood areas. The assessment includes impacts to Listed Federally Endangered Species. A guidance document was prepared by FEMA Region X(10) to assist in preparation of a habitat assessment for project specific impacts. This habitat assessment should be prepared by a qualified consultant and submitted with your flood hazard permit application.
Survey Requirements
Elevation Certificates must be completed by a state licensed surveyor. Separate elevation certificates are required before, during and after construction. Initial elevations are taken prior to any earthwork and the final elevation certificate will be conducted once construction and final grading have been completed.