New Building and Remodeling Rules take effect September 1
Houston earlier this year approved flood protection reform proposals striving to protect lives and property in any future Houston floods. The new rules for future construction of homes and buildings in flood plains will take effect Sept. 1, close to the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, which brought record-high rainfall to Houston, flooded hundreds of thousands of dwellings and triggered the deaths of dozens of people in Harris County.
The ordinance covers new construction and any existing home that’s expanded by 33 percent or more — existing homes are grandfathered and don’t have to be elevated.
New construction will have to sit two feet above the 500-year flood-plain, which is land predicted to flood during a once-every-500-years storm (17-19 inches of rain in 24 hours). The soon-to-expire standard was set at one foot above the 100-year flood plain, land that is predicted to flood during a once-every-100-years (13-14 inches of rain in 24 hours).
To those looking to build or remodel this year:
Please consider applying for all permits prior to September 1st to avoid application of new ordinance to your project.