Cambridge staff outline plan to update floodplain zoning, adopt new FEMA maps

The Health and Environment Committee of the City of Cambridge received a staff briefing on proposed amendments to the city—s floodplain zoning intended to adopt updated Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps and align local ordinance language with the Massachusetts model bylaw.

The changes, presented by Jeff Roberts, director of zoning and development in the Community Development Department, and Teal Dallas of the zoning team, aim to replace Section 20.7 of the city—s zoning ordinance with model bylaw-derived text, reference six updated FEMA map panels that cover Cambridge, and streamline the local approval process for development in the mapped special flood hazard area.

Why it matters: Updating the ordinance will keep Cambridge eligible for the federal insurance program that depends on FEMA map references, preserve residents— access to flood insurance, and change permitting steps for projects in the floodplain. Staff said the city must complete the zoning amendment process in time to meet a July 8, 2025 deadline stated in the briefing.

City staff explained the technical and legal framework. Teal Dallas told the committee FEMA publishes county-level flood maps that must be referenced in local ordinance language to maintain compliance with the federal insurance program. The…