Building in a flood zone in Arvin: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Arvin Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Arvin's code says

Arvin code What Arvin's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is required before any construction or other development begins in a special flood hazard area. § 15.32.130 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.32.070.
Building in a floodway	No fill, new building, substantial improvement or other new development unless an engineer certifies no rise in base flood elevation. Applies: Designated floodways inside special flood hazard areas. § 15.32.220 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement, and other new development unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in the base flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor, including a basement, must be at least 1 foot above the highest nearby natural grade upstream. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone; or as the Receive and Discharge Study requires, unless the floodplain administrator decides otherwise. § 15.32.170 · code text For areas in an AO zone, new construction, substantial improvement and other proposed new development of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated a minimum of one (1) foot above the highest adjacent natural grade upstream of the structure, or as required by the Receive and Discharge Study, unless otherwise determined by the floodplain administrator. The lowest floor, including a basement, must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone; or as the Receive and Discharge Study requires, unless the floodplain administrator decides otherwise. § 15.32.170 · code text For areas in an A zone, new construction, substantial improvement and other proposed new development of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated at or above the base flood elevation, or as required by the Receive and Discharge Study, unless otherwise determined by the floodplain administrator. The lowest floor must be raised 0 to 6 inches, as the Receive and Discharge Study requires. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in a B zone, unless the floodplain administrator decides otherwise. § 15.32.170 · code text For areas in a B zone, new construction, substantial improvement and other proposed new development of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated zero (0) to six (6) inches as required by the Receive and Discharge Study, unless otherwise determined by the floodplain administrator.

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What are the rules for building in an Arvin flood zone?

Arvin's code: A development permit is required before any construction or other development begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.32.130); The lowest floor, including a basement, must be at least 1 foot above the highest nearby natural grade upstream. (New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone; or as the Receive and Discharge Study requires, unless the floodplain administrator decides otherwise.) (§ 15.32.170).

Building in a flood zone in Arvin

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