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Des Moines County adopts updated flood-plain ordinance aligned with new FEMA maps
Summary
The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors approved Ordinance No. 25 to update the county flood‑plain development ordinance to reference recent FEMA FIRM maps; a companion resolution sets the ordinance effective May 26, 2026.
The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors approved the third reading of Ordinance No. 25 on April 21, updating the county’s flood‑plain development rules to reference the most recent FEMA flood insurance rate maps and to align the ordinance text with state and federal model language.
Jared Lasser (staff member) told the board the revisions primarily add references to recent FIRM panels affecting areas along the Skunk River that take effect May 26 and make several textual edits to maintain consistency with the FEMA and Iowa DNR model ordinance. “It won’t likely change anything enforcement‑wise in practice, but just to maintain consistency with the FEMA and DNR model ordinance,” Lasser said.
The board moved and approved a companion resolution to make the ordinance effective the same day the updated maps take effect (May 26, 2026). The motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: updating county code to reference current FIRM panels ensures local regulations match the maps used for floodplain determinations, flood insurance, and permitting. The resolution sets a clear effective date so local enforcement and permitting align with FEMA’s map changes.
What happens next: With the effective date set, county staff will proceed to align permit and development reviews with the updated maps. No implementation changes to enforcement procedures were reported at the meeting.
