Development Review & Emergency Response

Determining Flood Risk

Mission

To provide for the necessary review and approval of paving and drainage improvements associated with proposed developments.

This program will provide engineering support to the Board through the Development Review Committee and Zoning Application Process.

This office is also responsible for making flood zone determinations, administering the flood hazard areas, subdivision access management and stormwater management ordinances. Responsible for evaluating levels of service on the stormwater management systems as pertains to concurrency issues.

Functions

• Administers development regulations for land subdivision, private site development, stormwater management, access management and flood plain management
• Recommends to the Development Review Committee as to issues regarding transportation concurrency, stormwater, parks and solid waste issues
• Recommends and provides technical expertise to the Board of County Commissioners as to issues regarding comprehensive land amendments and rezoning requests
• Recommends to the Board of Adjustment as to issues regarding zoning variances and subdivision regulations
• Reviews and issues commercial access, paving and drainage improvement permits
• Provides needed flood information (Flood Insurance Rate Zone Information) and assistance to the public upon request​

For Flood Insurance Rate Zone Information, please call our automated voice-mail system at (352) 337-6140. Have your Tax Parcel Identification Number and Physical Address available. Most requests are answered by the next working day.

For information regarding Public Works-related issues on Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Rezoning Requests or Board of Adjustment Requests, contact Lalit Lalwani at (352) 374-5245 x1243, or email at llalwani@alachuacounty.us.

How Can I Determine If I Am At Risk For Flooding?

It is important for every resident to know the floodplain classification for their property. FEMA publishes maps indicating a community's flood hazard areas and the degree of risk in those areas. To determine the risk for your specific property, call the following officials for your jurisdiction:

Community	Agency	Telephone	FEMA Map Community Number
Alachua County	Public Works	352-337-6140	120001
City of Alachua	Public Works	386-462-1231	120664
City of Archer	City Hall	352-495-2880	120670
City of Hawthorne	(Hawthorne does not participate in NFIP)
City of Gainesville	Public Works	352-334-5069	125107
City of High Springs	City Hall	386-454-1416	120669
Town of LaCrosse	(LaCrosse does not participate in NFIP)		120626
Town of Micanopy	City Hall	352-466-3121	120344
City of Newberry	City Hall	352-472-2161	120679
City of Waldo	City Hall	352-468-1001	120003

Floodplain Maps Online

To browse floodplain maps, visit:

• The Growth Management Map Genius.
• The Alachua County Property Appraiser's website.
• FEMA offers assistance to help find floodplain mapping. Contact a Map Specialist to assist you through email or by calling 1-877-FEMA MAP or visit www.fema.gov.
• To check the probability of flooding please click on the links below. Please note that these are non-regulatory maps and are provided for information purposes.
• Suwannee River Water Management District

Floodplain Development Permit Requirements

Any development in the floodplain requires a flood hazard area permit according to the Unified Land Development Code Ch. 406. If you need a flood zone determination, contact Alachua County Public Works at 352-337-6140 or the City of Gainesville Public Works at 352-334-5069.

If you need a FEMA elevation certification or suspect that illegal floodplain development is occurring call the Alachua County Building and Zoning Department at 352-374-5244 or the City of Gainesville Building Inspection Department at 352-334-5050.

To report suspected illegal developement click on this link: http://growth-management.alachuacounty.us/complaint/create​

A​dditionally, in accordance with NFIP standards, Alachua Co. Building Code requires if the cost of any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvements to a building equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s market value, such work is considered a substantial improvement . The existing building is then required to meet the same standards as a new building. For residential structures, these requirements typically mean raising the living area of the building to the base flood elevation.

Substantial Improvement Requirements

Substantial improvement shall mean any repair from damage or destruction, reconstruction, improvement, or additions of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the assessed tax value of the structure as is listed by the Alachua County Tax Assessors Office or by a certified appraisal. The assessed value of the structure shall be determined before the improvement is started, or if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage or destruction occurred.

For FEMA's substantial improvements/damage reference click on this link: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_nfip_substantial-improvement-substantial-damage-desk-reference.pdf

Drainage System Maintenance

A community can lose a portion of its drainage system carrying or storage capacity due to dumping, debris, soil erosion and sedimentation, and overgrowth of vegetation. When this happens, flooding occurs more frequently and reaches higher elevations, subjecting properties otherwise protected to unnecessary risk of damage. Keep grass clippings and other debris out of stormwater storage and treatment capacity. Per county ordinance, it is illegal to dump trash and debris in drainage ways.

If you experience any localized drainage problems please notify the County Public Works Department at 352-374-5245 or 386-462-2147 or the City of Gainesville - Streets Division at 352-334-2161 so that the problem can be corrected.

To report suspected illegal dumping in stormwater drains click on this link: http://growth-management.alachuacounty.us/Complaint/Create​

Community Rating System-Alachua County is a Class 6 Community

On August 14^th, 2012, the Alachua County Commission was presented a Plaque from FEMA for improvement to a Class 6 from Class 7 Rating (on a scale from 1 to 10; 10 being the lowest, 1 being the highest) of the Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary incentive program of the National Flood Insurance Policies (NFIP) and provides for discounted flood insurance premiums to property owners in participating communities. The citizens of Alachua County would benefit with a 20% discount as opposed to 15% (an additional 5%) on their Flood Insurance premiums which amounts to an additional cumulative savings of $28,403 based on 1565 active policies.

The CRS rating is effective May 1^st 2012 and good for 5 years.

Alachua County has been a participating community in the NFIP since 1984 and in the CRS since 1995. The Community Rating System effort is a result of collaboration between the various Alachua County Departments; Fire Rescue, Growth Management, Environmental Protection and Public Works.

The three goals of the CRS are:

1. Reduce flood damage to insurable property.
2. Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP and
3. Encourage a comprehensive approach to Floodplain Management.

This reflects the County’s commitment to protecting lives and property through mitigation and wise planning practices.

For more information on the CRS click this link: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_community-rating-system_local-guide-flood-insurance-2018.pdf​

Additional Sources for Information

• FloodSmart.gov The Official Site of the National Flood Insurance Program
• Real Time River and Lake Levels from the Suwannee River Water Management District
• Flooding and Hurricane Information From the Saint Johns River Water Management District
• Water Levels Information from the Saint John’s River Water Management District
• Homeowner’s Insurance Excludes Flood Coverage
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Flood insurance is Available in the Community
• There is a 30 Day Waiting Period before Flood Insurance Coverage Goes into Effect
• What is Covered by Flood Insurance
• Turn Around Don’t Drown
• Information from Past Floods
• Flood Alerts
• Protecting Your Home from Wind Damage
• Reducing Damage from Localized Flooding
• Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting
• Floodplain Development Requires a Permit
• Summary of Rules for New Construction
• Alachua County Building Permitting
• Alachua County Floodplain Ordinance
• American Red Cross Flood Safety
• Safety Tips for Evacuation
• Evacuation Routes
• FEMA Description of Floodplain Natural Functions
• Benefits of Natural Floodplains
• Regulations that Protect Floodplain Natural Functions