Fast Facts On Flooding and Floodplain Regulations In Hillsborough County

By: Andrea Iverson, CFM Sr. Engineering Technician Hazard Mitigation, Building Services Division

1. FLOODING

Flooding is the most costly and repetitive natural disaster affecting Hillsborough County.

County flooding occurs not only along the coast, but in riverine and other inland areas, as well. Coastal flooding typically occurs in South County, along with parts of Town ‘N Country (south of Memorial Highway).

Inland flooding occurs when lakes rise above normal levels or low areas are filled with rain and create “ponds.” Areas in the Northwest portions of the County near Odessa and Lutz are frequently subject to this kind of flooding.

Riverine flooding is often caused by flooding of rivers over their banks and abnormally high tides in the Bay. Areas along the Hillsborough, Alafia, and Little Manatee Rivers have had recurring losses due to this hazard.

Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federally underwritten program provided by many insurance companies. Hillsborough County joined the NFIP June 16, 1980. Most homeowners insurance policies do not provide coverage for damage due to flooding.

Hillsborough County is a Class 5 community with FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) because it has adopted more stringent flood mitigation measures. This rating means that Hillsborough County residents and business owners in high-risk flood zones benefit from a 25% discount on their flood insurance policies each year.

The Class 5 CRS rating saves policyholders within the community over $5 million in insurance premiums each year.

More info about flooding and the flood maps

View the County’s new flood risk maps

2. FLOOD CONTROL REGULATIONS

Hillsborough County’s Flood Damage Control Regulations are a part of the County’s Land Development and Construction Codes. Their purpose is to restrict or prohibit uses and/or construction that are dangerous to health, safety, property, and the general welfare because of issues concerning erosion, flood heights, or fast-moving waters.
  
New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure in the Special Flood Hazard Area, or the high-risk flood area, is required to have the lowest floor, together with attendant utility systems, elevated to the design flood elevation (six inches above the base flood elevation).

New construction or substantial improvement of any nonresidential structure in the Special Flood Hazard Area is required to have the lowest floor, together with attendant utility systems, elevated to the design flood elevation.  It also may be flood-proofed to be protected, at a minimum of one foot above the design flood elevation.

Development in a Coastal High Hazard Area or a Floodway is also regulated by the codes mentioned above. Additional criteria is required for any new construction or substantial improvements in these areas.

Copies of elevation certificates may be available for structures built after 1991 that were permitted in the high-risk flood zone.

PGM Wins Two Awards

The Florida Planning & Zoning Association has recently recognized two projects that the Planning & Growth Management Department was involved in.  The County’s Green Roof Incentive was awarded the Outstanding Environmental Planning Award by the group, and the new Brandon Regional Service Center was recognized with a Public Development Award of Excellence.

Hillsborough County has been reviewing the Land Development Code to enable and encourage sustainable and low impact development processes.  As a part of that process, the County approved an amendment in February allowing green roofs to be used to obtain credit as open space during the site development review process. The department also hosted a one-day green roof symposium last year with the “Green Roofs for Healthy Cities” group from Canada.

View Hillsborough County’s other “green” initiatives

The Brandon Regional Service Center, a joint project with the Real Estate Department, was recognized as a part of the Brandon Main Street Community Plan.  The Plan was a collaborative project between Hillsborough County and the greater Brandon community to create a traditional town center for Brandon.  This $4.2 million, 18,000-sq. ft. facility serves as the civic cornerstone for Brandon Main Street, a special zoning district designed to create a mixed-use town center for Brandon. The Service Center was one of the earliest projects completed in compliance with the Brandon Main Street development regulations.