Warren County adopts updated flood-damage regulations, delays enforcement 30 days

Warren County commissioners approved updated flood damage reduction regulations after a public hearing, then amended the resolution to delay enforcement for 30 days.

County staff told the board the Federal Emergency Management Agency will make updated flood maps regulatory the next day; property owners affected by the new boundaries have been notified by postcard and public meetings. A county resolution presented for adoption originally listed an April 22, 2025 effective date; commissioners amended that resolution to require the measure to become effective 30 days after adoption.

The board opened a public hearing on the proposed flood damage reduction regulations. Molly, a Warren County staff member overseeing the mapping project, summarized outreach and next steps, saying FEMA “sent out postcards. We had public, I think 3 or 4 public meetings where they could attend,” and that FEMA had notified affected property owners directly. Molly said some special flood hazard areas decreased, meaning some property owners “will not need their flood insurance any longer,” while others saw increases and will “now need to purchase flood insurance.”

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. A county official presented a resolution “approving flood damage reduction regulations, effective 04/22/2025.” A commissioner corrected that the resolution could not be effective that day because, as a legislative act, it must wait 30 days; the board moved, seconded and voted to amend the resolution to add the 30-day delay, then approved the resolution as amended. The roll call recorded “Yes” votes from Commissioner Grossman and Commissioner Jones.

County staff told the board the updated FEMA maps will be regulatory as of the FEMA notice date (cited in discussion as April 23), and that after that FEMA will send a postcard confirming the change. Staff noted that, by adopting the regulations and participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, affected property owners may obtain reduced-rate flood insurance through FEMA or private insurers.

The board’s action means Warren County will regulate against the new FEMA map boundaries once the resolution’s 30-day enactment period has passed. The county clerk recorded the motion and roll calls; no appeal, variance, or additional mitigation measures were discussed during the session.

Votes at a glance - Resolution approving flood damage reduction regulations (as amended to be effective 30 days after adoption): Approved. Roll call recorded Commissioner Grossman: yes; Commissioner Jones: yes. - Resolution continuing administrative hearing for Kroger Union Village PUD Stage 2 in Turtle Creek Township to May 13, 2025, 9:05 a.m.: Approved. (See separate action listing.)

What changed and why it matters Adoption of the updated regulations aligns local rules with FEMA’s new flood map boundaries. That alignment determines which parcels are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas and therefore affects whether lenders require flood insurance and whether property owners can access NFIP rates and programs. The board’s 30-day delay follows the commissioners’ clarification that legislative actions generally take 30 days to become effective.

Next steps The county will complete administrative processing of the resolution, and staff said FEMA will mail confirmation postcards to affected property owners. The county will begin enforcement only after the 30-day effective period ends.