Building a house on a floodplain

[glen]

If it’s in a floodplain and has a high voltage power line I’d say plan on living there from here on out and whoever inherits it won’t get much $$$ for it. Your buyers pool will be minimal

[topduarte]

There is a BIG difference between a floodplain and a floodway.

Here iin Pflugerville we require a FEMA flood study report which we review first and after approval it goes to FEMA. This is time consuming and expensive.

When we review new plats, we require all FFE's (first floor elevations to be 2 feet above the Base flood elevation (BFE).

The higher you build the cheaper the insurance is.

Manny, PE and CFM (Certified Floodplain Manager)

Feel free to pm with any questions

[Razrbk89]

I have to ask, why would you choose to build in a flood plain? It’s the proverbial disaster waiting to happen?

[Hamshire]

I’m the floodplain administrator for my county and the regulations vary by county. Check with your floodplain admin. In Chambers County you can build your home in the 100 year floodplain, but you have to be 1 foot above the BFE. Insurance is required if you have a loan on the home. Your county will require an elevation certificate.

[Aggiechick]

I would also suggest speaking with the county floodplain administrator, yes there is such a thing. Depending upon where you live and how active that person/program is, you may also need approval from them.

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[Black Ice]

Building a house on a floodplain

I’m the floodplain administrator for my county and the regulations vary by county. Check with your floodplain admin. In Chambers County you can build your home in the 100 year floodplain, but you have to be 1 foot above the BFE. Insurance is required if you have a loan on the home. Your county will require an elevation certificate.

I’ve been looking to buy a .70 acres lot in a private community with bayou access. Most of the built homes flooded with about 6 inches of water in the 16 flood so I’m interested to hear y’alls opinion. I’m also looking to buy 35 acres next to this lot for 5 times what the .07 acres would cost.


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[Burnadell]

I’ve been looking to buy a .07 acres lot in a private community with bayou access. Most of the built homes flooded with about 6 inches of water in the 16 flood so I’m interested to hear y’alls opinion. I’m also looking to buy 35 acres next to this lot for 5 times what the .07 acres would cost.


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.07 of an acre is only 3050 sq. ft. Surely you typoed?

[Black Ice]

Building a house on a floodplain

.07 of an acre is only 3050 sq. ft. Surely you typoed?

It looked good when I typed it arsehole[emoji23].


It’s .70 acres.


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[warrington]

Thank uou all

Kinda what I was thinking

Beautiful land sometimes has its drawbacks when it is at a decent price

[Atfulldraw]

I’m the floodplain administrator for my county and the regulations vary by county. Check with your floodplain admin. In Chambers County you can build your home in the 100 year floodplain, but you have to be 1 foot above the BFE. Insurance is required if you have a loan on the home. Your county will require an elevation certificate.

This is the correct answer.

Some places will require new construction be further above the BFE.

Flood insurance isn't all that expensive....we own a house on the river that is almost 4' below the current required BFE. It sits in Flood Zone A.

It costs us a little under 2 grand a year (including contents coverage) to have full coverage flood insurance, but that is with a $10K deductible.

Keep in mind that not all lenders will allow that large of a deductible....

Our place is 40 years old and has never flooded, if it does -- I know a guy

[JLivi1224]

I’m the floodplain administrator for my county and the regulations vary by county. Check with your floodplain admin. In Chambers County you can build your home in the 100 year floodplain, but you have to be 1 foot above the BFE. Insurance is required if you have a loan on the home. Your county will require an elevation certificate.

With so many “experts” around here, having the expert chime in was rather refreshing.

[BTLowry]

I live in a flood zone. Grandfather in. The neighbor tried to build and the county (McLennan) shut him down. Said that nothing can be hauled in or out of a flood zone. He sold the lot with a slab on it a moved away. Don't know all the facts. Side note, I think Baylor stadium was built in a flood zone.

Never heard that, maybe they know all that soil is contaminated

Lots of different rules depending on where you are though

[PEC]

There is a BIG difference between a floodplain and a floodway.

Pay attention to this^^^
Floodplains are built in every day. Floodways are a different beast....you can build in a flood was if you get an engineering study done and a "no rise certificate".

I’m the floodplain administrator for my county and the regulations vary by county. Check with your floodplain admin. In Chambers County you can build your home in the 100 year floodplain, but you have to be 1 foot above the BFE. Insurance is required if you have a loan on the home. Your county will require an elevation certificate.

Your county is one of a select few that I have heard of with 1' above BFE. Most all that I know of are 2' with some counties now rewriting their floodplain ordinance to read BFE +4.

But to answer the OP most like you will have no problem building in your floodplain if you dig a pond and raise the house elevation. One thing to be aware of though just like when dealing with floodways it is illegal to raise your elevation in a way that will flood your neighbors with the displaced water.

[Hamshire]

I’ve been looking to buy a .70 acres lot in a private community with bayou access. Most of the built homes flooded with about 6 inches of water in the 16 flood so I’m interested to hear y’alls opinion. I’m also looking to buy 35 acres next to this lot for 5 times what the .07 acres would cost.


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Where is the property located?

[wal1809]

Fort Bend County requires 18 inches above BFE. Call your flood engineer in your county. He/she should be able to get you a copy of the county flood ordinance. Read it for yourself. Even the county people don't get it right all the time.