Development Requirements

All development in the League City floodplain requires a permit per Chapter 50 (PDF) of the League City Code of Ordinances which was revised in January 2012. Development includes, but is not limited to, all new construction, filling, grading, and paving. Substantially damaged or improved structures, where the cost of repair (regardless of the cause of damage) or improvements to a structure equals or exceeds 50% of the building's market value, also require building permits and elevation certificates, and are held to the same standards as new construction.

National Flood Insurance Program

Communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program must regulate to minimum standards in order to provide subsidized flood insurance to their citizens. In some cases, the City of League City has chosen to go beyond the minimum standards in order to provide further protections to its citizens. One higher standard League City adheres to in its floodplain ordinance is the requirement of all new construction and substantially improved structures. New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure permitted on or after October 1, 2018, shall have the lowest floor (including basement), elevated a minimum of 24 inches above the larger of the base flood elevation (BFE), the crown of the nearest street or the highest grade adjacent to the building and be a minimum of three inches above the nearest 500-year flood.

For storage sheds and other accessory structures built in some floodplain areas, flood vents can be used in lieu of elevation. If flood vents are used, please follow the guidelines stipulated in the SOP for Flood Vents. Contact the Building Department for additional information.

Higher Standards

Higher standards are necessary to safeguard properties from future flood damage because the minimum standards are not always enough to provide the best protection. In the end, the higher standards will also mean a cost savings to the property owners on their flood insurance premiums. It is true that higher regulatory standards provide added protection to structures, but they do not completely eliminate the flooding threat.

Ask Advice First

Contact the League City Building Department for advice before you construct or place anything in the floodplain to ensure that the proper regulations are followed. Any development in the floodplain without a permit is illegal, and such activity should be reported to the League City Building Department. Permit information can also be obtained at the League City Building Department located at 500 West Walker Street. For more information on requirements for development, refer to the permits page or contact the Building Department staff.

Requirements

Elevation certificates are required by the League City Building Department in order to verify that new construction and substantial improvements meet the ordinances and regulations of the City. Elevation Certificates on some properties in the floodplain and in other areas of the city are on file with the Building Department and can be accessed on the elevation certificates page.

The following FEMA publications are useful when considering how to build a safe and compliant home in the floodplain.