Floodplain Management Program

  1. National Flood Insurance Program
  2. Floodplain Code
  3. FEMA Risk Map
  4. Maryland State Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMS)
  5. Floodplain Permits and Elevation Certificates

 

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

The NFIP is a Federal program enabling property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance protection against losses from flooding. Participation in the NFIP is based on an agreement between local communities and the Federal Government that states if a community will adopt and enforce a floodplain management ordinance to reduce future flood risks to new construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas, the Federal Government will make flood insurance available within the community as a financial protection against flood losses.

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More information about flood insurance can be found by visiting the National Flood Insurance Program Homepage.


Floodplain Code

Baltimore City floodplain management is a program of corrective and preventative measures for reducing flood damage, including but not limited to emergency preparedness plans, flood control works, and floodplain management regulations. Floodplain regulations are meant to protect life, health and property; minimize rescue and relief efforts; minimize business interruptions; minimize damage to public facilities; minimize the occurrence of future flood blight areas; minimize public expenditures for costly flood control projects; and prevent increases in the regional flooding. The Baltimore City floodplain code supersedes both State and Federal floodplain regulations.


Flood Maps

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) which identify areas that are at risk of flooding. FIRMs include statistical information such as data for river flow, storm tides, hydrologic/hydraulic analyses, and rainfall and topographic surveys. Flood hazard areas identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map are identified as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). In Baltimore City, the regulated floodplain includes the 1% and 0.2% annual-chance flood areas, also known as the 100-year and 500-year floodplain.

The City of Baltimore Floodplain Management Office provides information about Baltimore City’s FIRMs such as assistance with determining if a property is located in the Special Flood Hazard Area, what the estimate Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is for a property, and what flood depths may be at that site. Baltimore City Floodplain Managers will also provide information about historic flooding, V-zones, the floodway, and natural floodplain functions in a specific area. For assistance with flood maps please contact Joanna Birch at Joanna.Birch@baltimorecity.gov.

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Baltimore City’s Floodplain Data Files can be accessed through the City of Baltimore’s Open Data Catalog


 FEMA Risk Map

Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Program that provides communities with flood information and tools they can use to enhance their mitigation plans and take action to better protect their citizens. Through more precise flood mapping products, risk assessment tools, and planning and outreach support, Risk MAP strengthens local ability to make informed decisions about reducing risk.


 Maryland State Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs)

The State of Maryland in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been systematically updating Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for communities over the past several years. This site is designed to guide homeowners/renters as well as communities through the process of determining their current flood risk as well as future flood risk based on the preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs).

The DFIRMs are digitally converted flood insurance rates maps that will be compatible with GIS (Geographic Information Systems). The improvements in spatial accuracy provided by the new base map, and the availability of electronic floodplain information should greatly enhance the ability to use the maps for planning, permitting, and insurance applications.

Use the Maryland State DFIRMs tool, to assess your risk for flooding hazards.


 Flood Permits and Elevation Certificates

To determine if your property is in the City’s regulated floodplain or to request a meeting with the floodplain management department, please check CoDeMap or reach out to the Floodplain Manager, Joanna Birch at Joanna.Birch@baltimorecity.gov .

If you are looking for an Elevation Certificate for a specific structure in the city, please check the list of Elevation Certificates we have on file, and we can send you a copy upon request. We update the list periodically but in case you cannot locate a specific structure on the list, please reach out and we will double-check the availability of the file.