Floodplain Development

In 1973, Congress passed the Flood Disaster Protection Act which requires purchase of flood insurance for buildings located within FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Insurance is made available to residents because Ventura County is a member of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and therefore must adopt and enforce minimum floodplain management standards.  

Minimum floodplain development standards are codified in Ventura County’s Floodplain Management Ordinance 4521  which specifically outlines requirements for construction or “development” in the SFHA within unincorporated Ventura County. “Development” is defined as, “any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations or storage of equipment or material.”

The County maintains its eligibility for NFIP coverage and emergency Federal disaster funding by issuing floodplain development permits that ensure development is conducted in a manner consistent with the Floodplain Management Ordinance and the current Ventura County Building Code.

The Ventura County Public Works Agency, Engineering Services Department, Land Development Services Division is responsible for issuing floodplain development permits, and information regarding floodplain development permits and the associated permit process is available at the Land Development Services webpage. Please contact Land Development Services at PWA_LDServices@venturacounty.gov or (805) 654-3027.