Building in a flood zone in Oakley: the local rules

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

What Oakley's code says

Oakley code What Oakley's code adds
Floodplain permit	A floodplain permit is needed before construction, before grading or building permits are issued, and before development starts. Applies: Property in any flood hazard zone. § 6.12.124 · code text A floodplain permit shall be obtained from the City of Oakley before construction, issuance of a grading permit or building permit, and commencement of development on any property within any flood hazard zone established in Section 6.12.114.
Building in a floodway	No encroachment unless a registered professional engineer certifies no flood level increase during the base flood. Applies: Designated floodways. § 6.12.144 · code text Encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, are not allowed in a floodway unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that the encroachment(s) shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge. No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises the base flood by at most 1 foot. Applies: Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted. § 6.12.144 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the City of Oakley.
Height of the lowest floor	Above the highest adjacent grade by at least the FIRM depth number plus 1 foot of freeboard. Applies: New or substantially improved structures in Zone AH, AO or VO. § 6.12.134 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AH, AO, or VO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM plus the required foot of freeboard, or at least two feet, if no depth number is specified. At least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved structures. § 6.12.134 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus the required foot of freeboard. At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved structures in Zone AH, AO or VO with no depth number on the FIRM. § 6.12.134 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AH, AO, or VO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM plus the required foot of freeboard, or at least two feet, if no depth number is specified.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the rules for building in an Oakley flood zone?

Oakley's code: A floodplain permit is needed before construction, before grading or building permits are issued, and before development starts. (Property in any flood hazard zone.) (§ 6.12.124); Above the highest adjacent grade by at least the FIRM depth number plus 1 foot of freeboard. (New or substantially improved structures in Zone AH, AO or VO.) (§ 6.12.134).

Building in a flood zone in Oakley

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