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Williston updates floodplain rules to comply with new state law
Summary
The Williston City Commission unanimously approved two ordinance amendments to align local floodplain management rules with North Dakota's SB 2027 and state model ordinance, directing staff to implement the changes and submit required annual certification to the North Dakota Department of Water Resources.
The Williston City Commission on March 24 unanimously approved amendments to its Flood Hazard Overlay District and to the city's flood elevation code to conform with recently enacted state law (SB 2027) and the State model ordinance, city staff said.
Mark Schneider, the city's Development Services Director, told commissioners the North Dakota Department of Water Resources (DWR), the State NFIP coordinator, has advised that communities failing to update their ordinances by June 1, 2026 could be suspended from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). "DWR further advises communities failing to update their ordinance by June 1, 2026 may be suspended from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)," Schneider said during the hearing. The public hearing drew no public comment.
The adopted package updates the city code's statutory authority and findings to reflect SB 2027, establishes development-permit submittal requirements, and clarifies required elevation and floodproofing certifications and recordkeeping. City staff said Chapter 8.3 now codifies floodway encroachment standards, including the FEMA 'no-rise' requirement, and provides procedures for handling unmapped floodways, cumulative-rise limits and FEMA map revision processes where applicable. The amendments also outline variance and appeal procedures and a required notice about increased flood insurance costs for approvals below base flood elevation.
Commissioners voted to introduce and adopt Ordinance 1177 (amending Section 7 F-H: Flood Hazard Overlay District) and Ordinance 1178 (amending Chapter 8.3, Flood-Management Regulation) and directed staff to finalize implementation steps and submit any required documentation to DWR. Each motion passed 4-0.
Why it matters: retaining NFIP participation affects property owners' access to federally backed flood insurance and post-disaster recovery options. The ordinance changes also set clear permit and technical standards for residential and nonresidential construction, manufactured homes, utilities and subdivisions to meet minimum NFIP standards and state guidance.
