When is my house considered in the flood plain?

If any grade adjacent to the foundation of the house is at or below the BFE, the entire house is determined to be in the floodplain and must comply with the Village’s Flood Hazard Protection Ordinance.  

In addition, the MWRD’s WMO stipulates that if a home is within 100’ of the mapped BFE, any permit applicant who is wanting to construct a new home or make substantial improvements to an existing home must prove, by means of a topographic survey, that all grades adjacent to the home are above the BFE (by at least 0.1 feet) to be considered outside of the floodplain.

Show All Answers

1. What is the 100-year flood plain?
2. What regulations must be followed for construction within and adjacent to the flood plain?
3. What is the Base Flood Elevation (BFE)?
4. What is the Flood Protection Elevation (FPE)?
5. When is my house considered in the flood plain?
6. My property was never in the flood plain before, why is it in the flood plain now?
7. When do I need to buy flood insurance?
8. Can I build in the flood plain?
9. Are there any restrictions for construction for homes adjacent to the 100-year flood plain?
10. What are the criteria for being able to construct a new home with a basement in the 100-year flood plain?
11. Can I make improvements to my existing home in the flood plain?
12. What is compensatory storage?
13. How can I find out if my property is located within the flood plain?