Community Floodplain Regulations

Floodplain Ordinances and Permit Forms 

Floodplain management ordinances are the regulations that communities adopt and enforce in order to participate in the NFIP. Floodplain permits are required for all development in mapped flood hazard areas. 

How do I know which ordinance is right for my town? 

The type of ordinance is determined by the type of flood hazard map for your community. The more detailed the flood maps, the more detailed the community's floodplain management regulations. The NFIP Regulations at 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 60.3 tie the type of map to the scope of minimum local regulations.  

If you would like a floodplain management ordinance that has been customized for your community, please contact the Floodplain Management Program at janet.parker@maine.gov. Below are model ordinances that apply to the different maps.

Ordinance Model A (Doc)

• No Flood Insurance Rate Map
• No Flood Boundary and Floodway map
• No Special Flood Hazard Areas
• Ordinance A language appears 44 CFR 60.3(a) 

Ordinance Model B (Doc)

• An 11” x 17” flat map or Z fold map, known as an "Approximate Method Map"  
• Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are identified with a capital letter A with no number following the letter.
• No base flood elevations
• Listed in the FEMA Community Status Book as Minimally flood prone with an M next to the community's map effective date.
• Ordinance B language appears in 44 CFR 60.3(b)
• If your community is coastal, use the Coastal Ordinance Model B (Doc)

Ordinance Model C (Doc)

• A Z fold map with base flood elevations anywhere on the map panels
• SFHAs identified as A, AE, or A1-30
• There are no identified regulatory floodways
• Ordinance C language appears in 44 CFR 60.3(c)
• If your community is coastal, use the Coastal Ordinance Model C/D (Doc)

Ordinance Model D (Doc)

• A Z fold map with base flood elevations anywhere on the map panels
• SFHAs identified with an A, AE, A1-30, AH, or AO  
• Has the floodway portion of the floodplain delineated on the FIRM with a cross hatched pattern, or has a separate Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps delineating the floodway as a non-shaded area
• Ordinance D language appears in 44 CFR 60.3(d)
• If your community is coastal, use the Coastal Ordinance Model C/D (Doc)

Ordinance Model E (Doc)

• A Z fold map with base flood elevations anywhere on the map panels
• SFHAs identified with an A, AE, A1-30, AH, AO, V, V1-30, or VE
• Has the floodway portion of the floodplain delineated on the FIRM with a cross hatched pattern or has a separate set of Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps delineating the floodway as a non-shaded area
• Ordinance E language appears in 44 CFR 60.3(e) 

Ordinance Model E LiMWA/Coastal A Zone (Doc)

• A Z fold map with base flood elevations anywhere on the map panels
• SFHAs identified with an A, AE, A1-30, AH, AO, V1-30, or VE
• May or may not have the floodway portion of the floodplain delineated on the FIRM with a cross hatched pattern or has a separate set of Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps delineating the floodway as a non-shaded area
• If your community has a delineated Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA) line, which denotes the area of 1.5- to 3-foot wave heights
• If your community has adopted the state building code it is mandatory to enforce V Zone standards, otherwise, enforcement is optional. 

How does my town adopt a floodplain management ordinance? 

The floodplain management ordinance must be adopted in accordance with MRSA Title 30-A § 4352. To enact the floodplain management ordinance, a public hearing to allow for citizen input, and comments on the proposed ordinance are required prior to enactment.  

Download instructions on how to adopt floodplain management regulations (PDF).

Flood Hazard Development Application and Permit Forms

All development in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) requires a Flood Hazard Development Permit. 

Follow the Floodplain Management Program's Permit Form Decision Tree (Doc) to find out which permit to use.

The appropriate Flood Hazard Development Permit Application and Forms are determined by the level of flood hazard identification shown on Flood Insurance Rate Map for your community. The more detailed the flood maps, the more detailed the community's flood hazard development permit application and permit forms will be.  

The model permits available below coordinate with the ordinance level listed above. These permits are models and can be customized for an individual community.

Permit Model A

No permit forms are needed for Model A ordinance levels.  

Permit Model B

If your community has a B level ordinance, your community should use the 60.3(b) Flood Hazard Development Permit Application and Two-Part Permit Forms (Doc).

Permit Model C or D

If your community has a C or D level ordinance, your community should use the 60.3(c)/60.3(d) Flood Hazard Development Permit Application and Two-Part Permit Forms (Doc). 

Permit Model E or E LiMWA

If your community has an E or E LiMWA level ordinance, your community should use the 60.3(e) Flood Hazard Permit Application and Two-Part Permit Forms (Doc).

Additional Required Forms

The following forms complete the Flood Hazard Development Application & Permit Package:

• Minor Development Permit (Doc)
• Conditional Use Permit (Doc)
  • Note: This form can only be legally used if your local floodplain management ordinance contains the state standards for a conditional use.
• Floodproofing Permit for non-residential structures only (Doc)
• Certificate of Compliance (Doc)
• Hydraulic Openings Certificate (Doc)
• V Zone Certificate (Doc)
• FEMA Elevation Certificate 
• FEMA Floodproofing Certificate for non-residential structures (PDF)

The table below details which forms are required for each ordinance level.