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Building in a flood zone in Santee

Santee'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 Santee Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Santee's code says

Santee code What Santee's code adds
Floodplain permit
  • A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in any special flood hazard area.
    Applies: Construction or development in any special flood hazard area.
    § 11.36.120 · code text
    A development permit must be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 11.36.070.
Building in a floodway
  • Fill, new building, substantial improvements and other encroachments are banned unless a registered engineer certifies no flood rise.
    Applies: Designated floodways.
    § 11.36.200 · code text
    Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided which demonstrates that encroachments must not result in any increase in flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
  • An engineering study sets a no-encroachment setback: the 1-foot flood-rise line or 5 times stream width, whichever is greater.
    Applies: When no floodway is identified; stream width is measured at the top of the bank, and the setback from the stream bank.
    § 11.36.200 · code text
    If no floodway is identified, the permit holder must provide an engineering study for the project area that establishes a setback where no encroachment of any new development will be allowed that would increase the water surface elevation of the base flood plus one foot or establish a setback from the stream bank equal to five times the width of the stream at the top of the bank, whichever is greater.
Height of the lowest floor
  • Lowest floor 1 foot above the base flood elevation, or higher if the Residential Building Code requires it.
    Applies: New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in Zones AE, AH and A1-30; the lowest floor includes the basement.
    § 11.36.150 · code text
    In AE, AH, A1-30 Zones, to 1 foot above the base flood elevation as determined by the Floodplain Administrator;
  • Lowest floor above the highest adjacent grade by at least the FIRM depth number, in feet.
    Applies: New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in an AO Zone with a FIRM depth number; the lowest floor includes the basement.
    § 11.36.150 · code text
    In an AO Zone, above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified;
  • Lowest floor at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade.
    Applies: New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in an AO Zone with no FIRM depth number; the lowest floor includes the basement.
    § 11.36.150 · code text
    In an AO Zone, above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified;
  • Lowest floor 1 foot above the base flood elevation, or higher if the Residential Building Code requires it.
    Applies: New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in an A Zone with no base flood elevations on the FIRM.
    § 11.36.150 · code text
    In an A Zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM, to 1 foot above the base flood elevation as determined by the Floodplain Administrator;

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the rules for building in a Santee flood zone?

Santee's code: A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in any special flood hazard area. (Construction or development in any special flood hazard area.) (§ 11.36.120); Lowest floor 1 foot above the base flood elevation, or higher if the Residential Building Code requires it. (New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in Zones AE, AH and A1-30; the lowest floor includes the basement.) (§ 11.36.150).

General information, not legal advice.

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