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Building in a flood zone in Menlo Park

Menlo Park's own rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Menlo Park Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Menlo Park's code says

Menlo Park code What Menlo Park's code adds
Floodplain permit
  • You need a development permit before construction or development starts in any special flood hazard area.
    § 12.42.41 · code text
    A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazards established in Section 12.42.32.
Building in a floodway
  • Fill, construction or other encroachment is banned unless a registered professional engineer certifies no rise in base flood levels.
    § 12.42.55 · code text
    Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor
  • Lowest floor: at or above base flood elevation plus 1 foot, or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.
    Applies: Homes other than single-family, duplexes and townhomes (which follow the state Residential Code), new or improved, in Zone A including Coastal A.
    § 12.42.51 · code text
    In all other Zone A, including Coastal A zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one (1) foot, or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher;
  • The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: Homes other than single-family, duplexes and townhomes (which follow the state Residential Code), new or improved, in zones other than A and AO.
    § 12.42.51 · code text
    In all other zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the rules for building in a Menlo Park flood zone?

Menlo Park's code: You need a development permit before construction or development starts in any special flood hazard area. (§ 12.42.41); Lowest floor: at or above base flood elevation plus 1 foot, or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher. (Homes other than single-family, duplexes and townhomes (which follow the state Residential Code), new or improved, in Zone A including Coastal A.) (§ 12.42.51).

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how Menlo Park's building in a flood zone rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Menlo Park Municipal Code — full text