Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Floodplain Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews HUD flood‑insurance rule; staff to draft ordinance raising freeboard to align with federal guidance
Summary
Chehalis City Council on March 24 discussed updating local flood‑elevation requirements after staff briefed the council on an April 2024 HUD rule affecting federally backed mortgages for new single‑family homes in flood hazard areas.
Chehalis City Council on March 24 discussed a change to local elevation requirements after staff briefed the council on a HUD rule tied to federally backed mortgages for new construction in special flood hazard areas.
Celeste (community development staff) told the council HUD adopted a rule in April 2024 that effectively prevents federally backed loans for new single‑family homes in special flood hazard areas unless the structure is constructed at least two feet above base flood elevation. She explained Chehalis’ current code requires structures to be built one foot above base flood elevation or at the flood of record, whichever is higher. “HUD adopted this rule in, April 2024,” Celeste said during the presentation.
Staff noted Washington State standards already require one foot of freeboard and that nearby jurisdictions such as Centralia and Lewis County have adopted a two‑foot freeboard. The proposed change under discussion would amend the local ordinance to require a minimum of two feet of freeboard or the flood of record, whichever is higher, for new construction in the special flood hazard area. Celeste explained that where a particular parcel’s flood‑of‑record elevation exceeded two feet above base flood elevation, the higher elevation would control.
Why it matters: the change affects only new construction in mapped flood hazard areas and could influence whether buyers can obtain federally backed mortgages, which could in turn affect marketability and developer interest in buildable lots inside city limits. Council members raised both sides: the rule protects future homeowners and aligns with federal and nearby local standards, while tighter local standards could increase construction costs and complicate development of some parcels.
Council direction: after discussion, councilmembers supported drafting an ordinance to update the local requirement to two feet or flood of record, whichever is higher, and asked staff to return with proposed language. Staff said they will prepare an amendment and bring it back for council consideration.
