A basic premise of the NFIP is to minimize property damage from flood-related events. The City seeks to meet this goal by requiring new construction and any substantial improvement within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or floodplain/floodway to obtain a Floodplain Development Permit.
Generally, all new construction and substantial improvements are required to be elevated to a certain height above existing grade as specified by the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and the related Flood Insurance Study (FIS). Development within a floodway is regulated to a higher standard due to the sensitivity of those areas.