 |
Owning and Using Property in a Floodplain
 Floodplain Regulations
In order to make flood insurance and disaster assistance available to the citizens
of unincorporated Sangamon County, the county participates in the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). A very important part of this participation
is the adoption and enforcement of a floodplain ordinance. The Sangamon County
Board adopted such an ordinance on November 16, 1982, which was most recently
updated in March 2004. The floodplain ordinance regulates development in the
100-year floodplain. The main purposes are:
- to protect human life & health,
- to prevent increased flood or drainage hazards,
- to protect buildings from damage,
- to decrease taxpayer costs related to flood control projects,
flood damage repairs, and rescue operations,
- to maintain property values, and
- to make federal flood insurance available.
When A Permit Is Required
A floodplain development permit is required for any development in a 100-year floodplain.
Definition of Development
- construction, reconstruction, placement or expansion of a building
that exceeds 70 square feet or is valued at more than $1,000
- substantial improvement: any repair, or improvement of a building the cost
of which is 50% or greater than the market value of the building before work
is started or before the building was damaged.
- placement of a mobile home or manufactured home
- placement of a travel trailer for more than 180 days
- installing utilities, construction of roads, or similar projects
- construction of levees, walls, fences, bridges, or culverts
- placement of fill
- excavating
- drilling, mining, dredging, or grading
- storage of materials including gas and liquid storage tanks
- stream or river channel modifications
Development does not include:
- maintenance of existing structures and facilities such as re-roofing buildings
or re-surfacing roads, or
- agricultural practices such as gardening or plowing.
How To Apply For A Permit
Floodplain development permit applications are available from the
Planning Commission office or click on Floodplain
Development Permit for a printable copy. Applications must include:
- description of project,
- scale drawing of site,
- existing and proposed ground elevations (fill/excavation) and/or
lowest floor elevations (structure),
- engineer's certificate & calculations (fill),
- permit or waiver from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
- Office of Water Resources, and
- $100 fee.
All new buildings/additions or substantially improved buildings
must be elevated to one foot above the base flood elevation and
require an elevation certificate upon completion.
Two copies of the permit application should be submitted to the
Planning Commission office. An engineer will then review the documentation
and a notification will be sent either with a permit or with a
letter stating the reasons for denial. Inspections of the project
will be arranged.
Building Protection
There are some buildings that were constructed many years ago in Sangamon County
that are located in a floodplain. Some options for protecting these buildings
follow. A floodplain development permit would be required prior to construction.
- elevation of the structure to at least one foot above the base flood
elevation
- construction of barriers between the structure and flood waters
- dry floodproofing or wet floodproofing.
Several informative documents on building protection can be found at Lincoln
Library.
For more information call the Springfield Sangamon County Regional Planning
Commission at 535-3110 or e-mail sscrpc@co.sangamon.il.us.
|
|
