Floodplain Ordinance Revisions

BY: OMAR IZFAR, ATTORNEY WILSON CRIBBS+GOREN
& JAMES JONES, PE, JONES | CARTER

Houston City Council voted just last month to approve revisions to its controversial Floodplain Ordinance. Here are some of the highlights of what the revised Ordinance does:

Regulated Area

Previously, Houston’s code applied to new permits and plats in the 100-year floodplain. The new revisions extend this to the 500-year floodplain. Land in the 100-year floodplain has a 1% chance of flooding in a single year while the 500-year floodplain has a 0.2% chance of flooding. As you know, we managed to experience a series of events that met or exceeded the 100-year rainfall intensities in the past few years. The City intends to regulate new construction to the 500-year floodplain

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