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County adopts voluntary freeboard rules to allow higher resilient building heights in flood zones
Summary
Charlotte County approved a code change allowing voluntary additional freeboard — up to 5 feet in A/0.2 zones and up to 7 feet in V/coastal zones — to be included in building‑height calculations as an incentive for resilient construction.
Charlotte County adopted a countywide ordinance Jan. 27 allowing property owners in FEMA‑mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas to include voluntary freeboard in building‑height calculations. Under the new rules, structures in A and 0.2x zones may add up to 5 feet of freeboard above base flood elevation when measuring maximum building height; structures in V and coastal A zones seaward of the coastal construction control line may add up to 7 feet.
The change was presented by community development staff as an optional, countywide expansion of an approach previously adopted for Manasota Key and Sandpiper Key. Building Official Ben Bailey and developers in the room supported the change, saying the additional freeboard provides a straightforward means to increase resilience without mandating design changes. County staff emphasized the provision is voluntary and intended to reduce future flood damage and insurance exposure.
The ordinance clarifies definitions (including ‘design flood elevation’ and the freeboard calculation), aligns County Code chapter 3‑9 with overlay definitions for coastal areas, and simplifies earlier overlay language so builders and reviewers can apply the option consistently. Several local development stakeholders told the board they plan to use the option to elevate finished floors and reduce flood risk. The ordinance passed unanimously.
