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Building in a flood zone in Belmont

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

Ask about building in a flood zone in Belmont See coverage

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

What Belmont's code says

Belmont code What Belmont's code adds
Floodplain permit
  • A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area.
    Applies: Any area of special flood hazard.
    § 7-214 · code text
    A development permit must be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in section 7-208.
Building in a floodway
  • No fill, new construction or other encroachment unless a registered professional engineer certifies no base flood elevation increase.
    Applies: Designated floodways.
    § 7-220.3 · 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.
  • No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises the base flood by at most 1 foot.
    Applies: Within Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted.
    § 7-220.3 · code text
    Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than 1 foot at any point within the City of Belmont.
Height of the lowest floor
  • At least 2 feet above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone.
    § 7-217 · code text
    In an A zone, elevated to or above the base flood elevation; the lowest floor shall be elevated at least two feet above the base flood elevation.
  • At or above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in all other flood zones (not A or AO zones).
    § 7-217 · code text
    In all other zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation.
  • At or above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE zones.
    § 7-217 · code text
    In AE Zones elevated to or above the base flood elevation.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the rules for building in a Belmont flood zone?

Belmont's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (Any area of special flood hazard.) (§ 7-214); At least 2 feet above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in an A zone.) (§ 7-217).

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how Belmont's building in a flood zone rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Belmont Municipal Code — full text