P&DS Services
Planning and Development Services offers online applications and processes for all services.
A floodplain is an area that is at risk for flooding. Building or performing work on a structure in a floodplain has special requirements to help keep everyone safe.
The City of Boulder's floodplain regulations are designed to reduce risk to life and property in areas along the 16 major drainageways within the city limits. The regulated floodplain currently covers about 15% of Boulder including over 2,500 individual structures.
The City of Boulder regulates development based upon FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps of the 1% Annual Chance Storm (aka the 100-year floodplain). Property owners of buildings with any portion of the structure (including roof overhang, gutters, footings, decks, balconies, etc.) encroaching into the 100-year floodplain are required to obtain a Floodplain Development Permit before expanding a building or constructing any improvements.
Outside of flood zones, please review information about Stream, Wetland, and Water Body Permits for more information about construction in those areas.
You can also review Boulder's municipal code regulations for floodplains.
Your property may have a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA which, effectively, removes it from the floodplain and some flood requirements. Please use our LOMA Dashboard to search the map and find out if your property has an existing LOMA. If the map does not display a LOMA for your property, then FEMA does not have one on file.
If you are applying for any building or development permits within a flood zone, providing an Elevation Certificate or LOMA can help expedite the process. If you find an Elevation Certificate or LOMA on the dashboards, please download and include it with your application materials.