Floodplain Development
What is a "floodplain"?
The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) defines a floodplain as "any land susceptible to being inundated by floodwaters from any source."
According to the National Flood Insurance Program, floodplain management is a process that aims to achieve reduced losses due to flooding. While it takes on many forms, floodplain management is realized through a series of federal, state, and local programs and regulations. Implementation methods are designed to protect man-made development from flooding, as well as protect the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains.
The City of Roxboro is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program through our enforcement of an approved Floodplain Development Ordinance, which is based upon the State of NC recommended model ordinance. You may review the entirety of the City's Floodplain Development Ordinance in the City's Unified Development Ordinance, Article 9, Part VIII.
By participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, the City of Roxboro provides property owners within the corporate limits an opportunity to insure their structures/property against flood damage. Effective enforcement of the City's Floodplain Development Ordinance is the only way to ensure property owners maintain this opportunity for flood insurance.
For more information on the National Flood Insurance Program, you may click here.
How do I know if my property is located within an identified floodplain or Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)?
While the term "floodplain" is used to generally describe areas susceptible to flooding, there are specific designations within the overall floodplain. These "Special Flood Hazard Areas" are broken into zones that provide details on the specific type of flood hazard applicable to that location. There are 15 separate Special Flood Hazard Areas, but only 4 are relevant to Person County.
The Person County GIS Department maintains a current map of identified Special Flood Hazard Area, which can be viewed using the Person County Tax Parcel Viewer, using the "Effective FEMA Flood Zones" layer of the layer list.
Individuals may search their property by address, tax map and parcel number, or record number. Once the correct property is identified on the map, simply navigate to the Layer List in the upper right-hand corner of the screen and select the "Effective FEMA Flood Zones" layer.
What do I do if my property is located within an identified Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)?
Owning property within a SFHA is not a penalty and does not carry any inherit problem. However, when such a property is developed, any work within the identified floodplain/SFHA is subject to requirements of the Floodplain Development Ordinance. This may include floodproofing, elevation, or grading work to protect the development from the effects of flooding. Additionally, there are protections for the floodplain area to ensure the integrity of the natural benefits of the feature. The City's Unified Development Ordinance contains information about these development standards, as well as a definition to explain what constitutes "development" in the floodplain areas.
Where can I learn more?
To learn more about the National Flood Insurance Program, Floodplain Management, or the NC Floodplain Mapping Program, you may visit these sites:
For information on watershed protection and development requirements, please visit this link to the City's Public Services Department webpage.