Floodplain Development Regulations

Purpose

Snohomish County adopted the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum floodplain management standards and regulations on March 15, 1984.


The county’s floodplain development regulations are meant to be consistent with the degree of flood hazard in specific areas of the floodplain. The intent of the regulations is to:

  1. Minimize loss of life and property by restricting uses and regulating development in special flood hazard areas; 
  2. Alert the county assessor, appraisers, owners, potential buyers and lessees to the natural limitations of the floodplain; 
  3. Meet the minimum requirements of the national flood insurance program; and 
  4. Implement state and federal flood protection programs.

Regulations

Snohomish County's floodplain development regulations are found in the following sections of Title 30 (Unified Development Code) of the Snohomish County Code:

  • SCC 30.65 - Special Flood Hazard Areas
  • SCC 30.43C - Flood Hazard Permits
  • SCC 30.43D - Flood Hazard Area Variances
  • SCC 30.91S.745 - Definition: Substantial Damage
  • SCC 30.91S.750 - Definition: Substantial Improvement

More Information

If you have questions about floodplain development regulations, please contact Snohomish County Planning and Development Services (PDS) at 425-388-3311. Also see: