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Sutter County · Building on your lot

Building in a flood zone in Sutter County

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

Ask about building in a flood zone in Sutter County See coverage

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

What Sutter County's code says

Sutter County code What Sutter County's code adds
Floodplain permit
  • A development permit is needed before any construction, substantial improvement or development, including manufactured homes, in a flood hazard area.
    Applies: Special flood hazard areas on current flood maps (FIRMs) or local flood hazard areas the County identifies.
    § 1780-510 · code text
    A development permit shall be obtained before any construction, substantial improvements or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard as identified on the current Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Sutter County or local flood hazard areas as identified by the County.
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 AE, AH, A1-30, unnumbered A, other zones and local flood areas; other areas use higher FIRM or local elevation.
    § 1780-530 · code text
    In AE, AH, A1—30 Zones, elevated at least one foot above the BFE.
  • Lowest floor at least 1 foot above the flood map's depth number, measured from highest natural grade before construction.
    Applies: New homes and substantial improvements in an AO zone where the flood map (FIRM) shows a depth number.
    § 1780-530 · code text
    In an AO Zone, elevated above the highest adjacent pre-construction natural grade to a height exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM by at least one foot
  • The lowest floor must be at least 3 feet above the highest adjacent natural grade before construction.
    Applies: New homes and substantial improvements in an AO zone where the flood map (FIRM) shows no depth number.
    § 1780-530 · code text
    or elevated at least three feet above the highest adjacent pre-construction natural grade if no depth number is specified.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the rules for building in a Sutter County flood zone?

Sutter County's code: A development permit is needed before any construction, substantial improvement or development, including manufactured homes, in a flood hazard area. (Special flood hazard areas on current flood maps (FIRMs) or local flood hazard areas the County identifies.) (§ 1780-510); The lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH, A1-30, unnumbered A, other zones and local flood areas; other areas use higher FIRM or local elevation.) (§ 1780-530).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Sutter County property

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

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Sutter County Municipal Code — full text