Hazardous Overlay Districts

Floodplain and floodway areas are designated by FEMA on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS).  You can search the flood maps in your area using FEMA’s Map Service Center, or contact our office to determine if your property is within a floodplain or floodway.  You can also view IDWR’s digital flood hazard interactive maps.

There are areas of Ada County with possible but undetermined flood hazards where flood hazard analyses have not been conducted.

If you are unsure as to whether your property is located in a floodplain or floodway, please contact our office.

The floodplain is an area that is susceptible to being inundated by water from any source.  Mostly, this is the area adjacent to a river, creek, lake, stream, or other waterways that is subject to flooding when there is a significant run-off event.

The floodway is the channel of a river or other watercourse that carries the deepest, fastest water downstream.

The technical definition of a floodplain as it pertains to the development process can be found in the Ada County Zoning Ordinance: 8-3F.

Before you start work in the floodplain or floodway including grading, excavation or filling, you must apply for and receive initial approval of a floodplain development permit from Ada County.

Other agencies may also require permits.  It is the responsibility of the owner to obtain necessary permits before applying for a permit with Ada County.  Other agencies include but are not limited to: Idaho Department of Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Idaho Department of Lands.

Yes.  Within the floodplain, structures, including basements and crawlspaces, are required to be elevated above the base flood elevation.

Within the floodway, it is very difficult to conduct any work because a registered professional engineer licensed in the state of Idaho must determine that the work will not cause an increase in flood elevation to the waterway.

For more information, see the Ada County Zoning Ordinance, 8-3F.

The base flood elevation is the level of floodwater expected to occur once in a hundred years.  Generally, when constructing in the floodplain this is the elevation that the lowest floor of the structure, including basements and crawlspaces, must remain at least one foot above.  For the technical definition as it pertains to development within the floodplain, see the Ada County Zoning Ordinance: 8-3F-4.

Flood zones are the geographic areas that FEMA has defined according to varying levels of flood risk.  The following chart gives a brief description of the zones that are present in Ada County.

Maintaining the flow capacity in streams that cross county properties requires cooperation and assistance to prevent flooding and bank erosion.

Do not dump or throw anything into ditches or streams:  Trash and vegetation dumped into a stream degrade water quality and every piece of trash contributes to flooding.

Report Violations:  Report any observations of dumping debris or vegetation clearing within the floodplain to Ada County Code Enforcement at (208) 287-5716.

After obtaining permits required by other agencies, you must submit a floodplain development application and checklist with the appropriate fee and required plans and documentation to Ada County Development Services.  The application includes a checklist that includes all required documentation and approval steps.  The County Engineer will review your application for compliance with the Flood Hazard Overlay District ordinance.

The following agencies may require permits and offer a joint application process:

• Idaho Department of Water Resources
  Contact Info: Western Regional Office (208) 334-2190 or [email protected]
•  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  Contact Info: Boise Field Office (208) 345-2286 or [email protected]
• Idaho Department of Lands
  Contact Info:  Southwest Supervisory Area Office (208) 334-3488 or [email protected]

Additional agencies may also require approvals or permits.  These agencies may include but are not limited to Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Failure to obtain the proper permits before you begin work can result in enforcement action by Ada County and/or other agencies including at a minimum:

• Corrective action
• Monetary penalties
• Criminal indictments and imprisonment

If your application is approved, you may complete the approved work based on meeting conditions of approval, as determined by the Ada County Engineer.  These conditions may include submittal of elevation certificates for structures.  In this case, a certificate of occupancy will not be issued by Ada County until the final elevation certificate is submitted to and approved by the Ada County Engineer.  Failure to meet conditions of approval may result in your permit being revoked and enforcement action may become necessary by Ada County or other involved agencies.

Check your permit conditions carefully.  Feel free to contact the County Engineer at (208) 287-7925 if you have any questions regarding your floodplain permit.

You may apply for a building permit at the same time you apply for your floodplain development permit.  However, your building permit will not be issued until the County Engineer has approved your floodplain permit.

Be sure to check your floodplain permit for any conditions of approval that will need to be addressed during the construction phase.

An elevation certificate is a form created by FEMA that must be completed by a registered professional engineer or land surveyor licensed in the state of Idaho.  The form is usually completed at least twice: once based on building plans and once again after construction and prior to issuing a certificate of occupancy.  The completed certificate provides the necessary information to ensure the structure is elevated in accordance with the requirements.

When work is proposed in a floodway, a no-rise certificate with supporting documentation, which is prepared by a professional engineer who is licensed in the state of Idaho, is required.  This certificate demonstrates that a proper engineering study has been conducted and verifies that the proposed work will not result in any rise in floodwaters during a flood event.  The no-rise certificate is required to be submitted with your floodplain development application.