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Current Flood Hazard Rules (Published 2025)
Flood Zone Building Permits are required for new construction or development in the District’s Floodplains. All development projects in the regulated floodplains must comply with 20 DCMR Chapter 31 - Flood Hazard Rules, managed by DOEE. The latest version of the Flood Hazard Rules, also known as the “Floodplain Regulations,” was published on June 20, 2025, in the DC Register.
Transition from the 2010 Regulations to the 2025 Regulations
Applicants that submit a complete application on or before July 20, 2025, may comply with the 2010 edition of the Flood Hazard Rules (Per Section 3198.1 of the 2025 Rules).
Further grandfathering is permitted in limited cases where there is a conflicting board or commission approval, provided that a permit is obtained before December 20, 2025. Please review the entirety of “Section 3198 – Transition” for details.
Maps of the New Regulatory Areas
The 2025 Rulemaking included two newly defined regulatory areas.
Tidal Shoreline Buffer
The Tidal Shoreline Buffer includes land projected to be underwater in 2080 during an average high tide as a result of sea level rise. DOEE’s buffer is based on 3.4 feet of sea level rise between 2000 and 2080, which is derived from the Intermediate-High Curve for Washington, DC from NOAA’s 2022 Technical Report. There are additional building requirements for development in this area.
- View a Map of the Tidal Shoreline Buffer Area
Rhode Island Avenue Metro Underpass Area
To address chronic street flooding following heavy periods of rain, the 2025 rulemaking included a new area that is now regulated.
- View a Map of the RI Ave Metro Underpass Regulated Area
Background on the Creating 2025 Rules
DOEE began the process of updating the Flood Hazard Rules in March of 2020. DOEE’s goal was to address deficiencies identified by FEMA and to ensure that the District's buildings and residents are more resilient to increased flood risk as a result of climate change.
Proposed Rulemaking July 2024
The proposed rulemaking for what ultimately became the 2025 edition of the Flood Hazard Rules was published in the DC Register on July 19, 2024. It was open for public comment for 45 days, ending September 2, 2024. The preamble of the proposed rulemaking has additional context and justification for updates to the regulations.
- View a PDF of the Proposed Rulemaking (Published July 19, 2024)
- View a Presentation of the Proposed Changes (Published August 1, 2024)
- View a Webinar Explaining the Proposed Changes (Published August 1, 2024)
Outreach Prior to July 2024
DOEE began the process of updating the Flood Hazard Rules in March 2020 and held several opportunities for feedback in 2020 and 2021. View those summarized opportunities, which include video recordings and presentations, to better understand DOEE’s original rationale and evolution of the Flood Hazard Rules based on research and feedback.