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Caswell County amends flood-damage prevention ordinance after FEMA map update
Summary
The Caswell County Board of Commissioners approved targeted updates to the county's flood-damage prevention ordinance to align with new FEMA flood insurance rate maps and technical standards; county staff said few properties will see adverse changes.
The Caswell County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved amendments to the county's flood-damage prevention ordinance after staff outlined changes tied to updated FEMA flood insurance rate maps and a 90-day appeal period.
County planning staff said FEMA provided preliminary flood insurance rate maps and a flood insurance study in October 2022 and that FEMA published public notices in December 2024 initiating a 90-day appeal window that runs through mid-March 2025. Planning staff said the county posted a public flyer and offered one-on-one map reviews to property owners.
Planner Mr. Walligan, the county's UDO administrator, described specific text changes in the unified development ordinance: adding three stated objectives for the regulations; allowing maps to be incorporated by reference rather than repeatedly adopted; switching the vertical datum reference to NAVD88; requiring flood-resistant materials below base flood elevation; updating elevation certificate forms to FEMA's current version; and adding language addressing tanks and development features such as fences and retaining walls. He told the board the revisions are intended to help the county remain eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program.
Walligan also explained how the county will treat remodeling of existing buildings in the floodplain: work that exceeds 50% of a structure's market value would trigger compliance with the ordinance; smaller projects would not, subject to the building-inspections determination.
No members of the public signed up to speak during the public hearing. Commissioner Smith moved to approve the amended flood-damage prevention ordinance; Commissioner Ingram seconded. The board voted in favor and the motion carried.
County staff said if no appeals are received during FEMA's appeal period and the state's review finds the ordinance acceptable, the board chairman will sign an adoption certificate and the changes will be incorporated into the county's UDO and used as the basis for local floodplain management measures.
The amendments, staff said, are largely technical and intended to align local rules with federal and state requirements and updated mapping data. The county did not report any pending appeals to FEMA at the time of the meeting.
