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Atwater · Building on your lot

Building in a flood zone in Atwater

Atwater's own rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text for every value.

Ask about building in a flood zone in Atwater See coverage

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

What Atwater's code says

Atwater code What Atwater's code adds
Floodplain permit
  • A development permit is required before any construction or other development begins in a special flood hazard area.
    Applies: Special flood hazard areas set by the city code.
    § 16.14.130 · 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 16.14.070.
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.
    § 16.14.220 · 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
  • At least 0.10 ft above FIRM depth number, or at least 2 feet; at least 4 feet if none given.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes, lowest floor including basement, in an AO zone; measured above the highest nearby grade.
    § 16.14.170 · code text
    In an AO zone, the lowest floor be elevated above the highest adjacent grade to at least 0.10 ft. above the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM or at least two feet, or elevated at least four feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified.
  • The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes, lowest floor including basement, in an A zone.
    § 16.14.170 · code text
    In A zone, the lowest floor be elevated at least two feet above the base flood elevation; said base flood elevation shall be determined by one of the methods in Section 16.14.150 B of this chapter.
  • The lowest floor must be at least 0.10 ft above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes, lowest floor including basement, in all other flood zones.
    § 16.14.170 · code text
    In all other zones, the lowest floor to be at least 0.10 ft. above the base flood elevation.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Atwater's code: A development permit is required before any construction or other development begins in a special flood hazard area. (Special flood hazard areas set by the city code.) (§ 16.14.130); At least 0.10 ft above FIRM depth number, or at least 2 feet; at least 4 feet if none given. (New or substantially improved homes, lowest floor including basement, in an AO zone; measured above the highest nearby grade.) (§ 16.14.170).

General information, not legal advice.

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Atwater Municipal Code — full text