National Flood Insurance Program

The National Flood Insurance Program in California Quick Guide (PDF) and the "Quick Guide for Coastal Communities" will help you understand more about why and how communities in California manage floodplains to protect people and property. Copies of these two publications may be requested by sending an email to: DWR_NFIP@water.ca.gov.

Flood-prone communities adopt ordinances that detail the rules and requirements for floodplain development. In case of conflicts, the community’s ordinance and/or building codes and not the Quick Guide, must be followed.  If you have questions, be sure to talk with your local planning, permit, engineering, or floodplain management officials.

• The National Flood Insurance Program in California Quick Guide (PDF)

The Community Assistance Visit (CAV) is a major component of the NFIP's Community Assistance Program (CAP). Staff from FEMA or from a state agency on behalf of FEMA visits a community to provide technical assistance to the community and assure that the community is adequately enforcing its floodplain management regulations. In California, the CAV is either performed by staff from FEMA Region IX or from the Department of Water Resources.

A CAV consists of a tour of the floodplain, an inspection of community permit files, and meetings with local appointed and elected officials. FEMA and DWR workshops also assist community officials to learn how to comply with NFIP requirements. We will work with the community to help bring their program into compliance with NFIP requirements. In extreme cases where the community does not take action to bring itself into compliance, FEMA may initiate an enforcement action against the community.

We provide assistance to communities and their constituents in the form of floodplain information.  We work to increase awareness for individuals exposed to the perils of flooding and about the importance for good floodplain management programs at the individual level as well as at all governmental levels.   Assistance can be provided in the form of outreach, education, providing general information, or site visits to assist for specific issues. DWR has floodplain management specialists in each of our regional offices to answer questions. DWR has floodplain management specialists in each of our regional offices to answer questions.

Many California communities have adopted floodplain management requirements that exceed – are “higher” than – the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. Some higher standards affect the design of buildings, while others apply to development other than buildings. In addition to reducing future flood losses, some higher standards may qualify for credit under the NFIP’s Community Rating System.

DWR prepared sample language to modify local floodplain management regulations. The basis for those samples is the 2020 FEMA-approved Model Ordinances written to coordinate with the California building code. Communities that do not use the 2020 model will still find the sample language useful for amending existing regulations. Electronic copies of the higher standards will be linked to this page in February 2021 when they meet ADA requirements. Copies may be requested by sending an email to: DWR_NFIP@water.ca.gov.

Higher Standards for Buildings  

1. Additional building height (freeboard)

2. Cumulative substantial improvement

3. Dwellings designed in accordance with ASCE 24

4. Limit size of enclosures

5. Limit use of fill to elevate buildings and/or dwellings 

6. Nonconversion agreements (for accessory structures and enclosures below elevated building)

7. Prohibit enclosures below elevated buildings

8. Repetitive flood loss (substantial damage) 

Other Higher Standards

9. Compensatory storage

10. Designating the Floodplain Administrator

11. Determining BFE in unnumbered Zone A

12. Flood hazard map other than FIRM

13. Flood protection setback along waterways

14. Manufactured home limitations

15. Subdivision limitations 

• Frequently Asked Questions about the 2020 California Building Code-Coordinated Floodplain Management Model Ordinances
• 2019 CCR Title 24 Flood Excerpts (available upon request)

• Model Code-Companion Floodplain Management Ordinance with Appendix G for All Communities
• Instructions and Notes: Model Code-Companion Floodplain Management Ordinance with Appendix G for All Communities
• Crosswalk

• California Model Ordinance for Zone A Only
• Instructions and Notes: Zone A Only
• Model Ordinance Cross Reference Check Tool

• California Model Ordinance for Zones A and V
• Instructions and Notes: Zones A and V
• Model Ordinance Cross Reference Check Tool

View the Dashboard in a separate window | Download Guide to the Dashboard (PDF)

This interactive dashboard enables local agencies and the public to easily view the status of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) communities and counties that have adopted the California Floodplain Management Model Ordinances  and are participating in the Community Rating System (CRS). 

It contains geospatial layers showing:

• Floodplain Management Model Ordinance Adoption Status
• Community and county participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 
• Community Rating System (CRS) status
• Community Assistance Visits (CAV) 
• Community Assistance Contacts (CAC) 

Intended Audience:  Consulting engineers and surveyors, floodplain administrators, building, planning, and public works staff from communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program

Workshop Topics: 

• Elevation certificate purpose and definitions;
• Special Flood Hazard Area Zones;
• How to use the Flood Insurance Rate Map;
• Determining lowest floor;
• Completion of the New FEMA elevation certificate

 Visit our registration page for a list of upcoming classes.

Intended Audience:  Floodplain administrators, government officials and building, planning, and public works staff from communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program

Workshop Topics:

• Federal role/state role/community role,
• Floodplain management vs. flood control,
• Duties of the local administrator,
• NFIP compliance,
• FEMA elevation certificate,
• Substantial improvement and substantial damage,
• Technical standards,
• Map reading & maintenance,
• Flood insurance

 Visit our registration page for a list of upcoming classes.

Intended Audience:  Floodplain managers with more than 2 years of experience, local community officials and other NFIP stakeholders seeking a CFM^® designation. 

Workshop Topics:  This one day workshop is designed as a review course of basic floodplain management principles for those who are considering taking the examination to become Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM^®). This full-day review is not a replacement for studying for the exam. Attendees should not expect to complete this workshop and pass the CFM^® exam without additional study. Suggested additional materials to study, for those intending to become a CFM^®, can be found on the Association for State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) website . Attendance at this course is not a guarantee of passing the CFM^® exam. Additional training is provided by FEMA through the Emergency Management Institute (EMI).

 Visit our registration page for a list of upcoming classes.

Intended Audience:  Floodplain administrators, engineers, engineering technicians, and consultant engineers that have a thorough knowledge of the NFIP regulations.

Workshop Topics: 

• NFIP regulations for Zone A;
• Sources of existing Base Flood Elevations;
• Development of Base Flood Elevations – simplified method (contour interpolation and data extrapolation method) and detailed methods;
• Quick-2 program example

 Visit our registration page for a list of upcoming classes.

Intended Audience:  Floodplain administrators, building, planning, and public works staff from communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, and consulting engineers and surveyors

Workshop Topics: 

• Purpose and definition of substantial improvement;
• Determining improvement costs and estimating market values of structures;
• Rehabilitations, additions, and reconstruction of structures;
• Recommended procedures;
• Post-disaster considerations and increased cost of compliance coverage

 Visit our registration page for a list of upcoming classes.