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Highlands officials outline state flood-rule changes that will raise design elevations and affect many shore properties
Summary
Construction official Steven Winters told a Highlands informational session that new state rules due to take effect July 20 add a 4-foot inundation adjustment and a 1-foot freeboard to design flood elevation, expand mapped flood areas and create new engineer‑filed permit categories that will increase planning costs for homeowners and builders.
At an informational meeting hosted by Highlands officials, Construction Official and Certified Floodplain Manager Steven Winters said recently passed state rules will significantly raise local building elevation requirements and change who must file permits with the state.
"It is passed legislation on January 20 and it is due to take effect on July 20," Winters said, explaining that new requirements add a one‑foot freeboard above the design flood elevation (DFE) and a separate four‑foot CAFE (inundation) adjustment to the design flood. Using a base example of 11 feet, Winters said the combined adjustments would be 16 feet for design purposes, though he cautioned that is not measured as 16 feet above current ground level.
Why this matters: the combined increase pushes more properties into areas that must meet higher construction standards and may…
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