Building in a flood zone in Chino Hills: the local rules

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

What Chino Hills's code says

Chino Hills code What Chino Hills's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. Applies: Within any special flood hazard area; applications may include plans for structures, fill, storage, drainage and related information. § 15.12.130 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Article III, Section 15.12.070.
Building in a floodway	No fill, construction, substantial improvement or development unless a registered professional engineer certifies no base flood elevation rise. Applies: Areas designated as floodways. § 15.12.220 · 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 must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in special flood hazard areas; the lowest floor includes the basement. § 15.12.170 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation. The lowest floor must be above the highest nearby ground, at least 1 foot higher than the FIRM depth number. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in Zone AO with a depth number on the FIRM; includes the basement. § 15.12.170 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least one (1) foot higher than the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two (2) feet if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest nearby ground. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in Zone AO with no depth number on the FIRM; includes the basement. § 15.12.170 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least one (1) foot higher than the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two (2) feet if no depth number is specified.

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What are the rules for building in a Chino Hills flood zone?

Chino Hills's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. (Within any special flood hazard area; applications may include plans for structures, fill, storage, drainage and related information.) (§ 15.12.130); The lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in special flood hazard areas; the lowest floor includes the basement.) (§ 15.12.170).

Building in a flood zone in Chino Hills

What Chino Hills's code says

Who this affects

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