For immediate release: March 12, 2015

Contact: Nicki van Vonno, Growth Management, 772-288-5495

FLOOD PROTECTION REGULATIONS

The Board of County Commissioners adopted the new Flood Protection Regulations, which include the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) and the final Flood Insurance Rate Maps.  The Maps delineate the boundaries of the Special Flood Hazard Areas.  As some of the boundaries have changed, some properties may now be in a Special Flood Hazard Area, while others may now be outside a Special Flood Hazard Area.  Those properties within a Special Flood Hazard Areas are required to have flood insurance.  If you live or own property in Martin County, you are invited to call Martin County's Engineering Department at 772-219-4945 or visit www.mcflood.martin.fl.us to find out how these changes may impact you.

The regulations become effective upon filing with the Department of the State, and the Flood Insurance Rate Maps become effective on March 16.  Development orders and building permits issued after the effective date must comply with the new regulations, including the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) and the final Flood Insurance Rate Maps.   Any application that has not been issued a development order or building permit must be amended to the new datum and will have to verify consistency with the new FIRM prior to the issuance of the order/permit. For questions, please contact your Project Coordinator in the Growth Management Department at 772-288-5495 or email them directly.

Developments that have been approved will have the old datum.  At time of building permit, the builder will need to convert the old datum to the NAVD88 datum.  Contact the Building Department at 772-288-5916 if you have any questions regarding this conversion.

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NvV/GMD

This notification can be reproduced in an alternative format upon request by contacting the County ADA Coordinator (772-221-1396), the County Administration Office (772-288-5940) or Florida Relay 711.