Lexington, NC
Home MenuFloodplain Management and Administration
As a participant in the National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP), the City of Lexington has adopted a flood prevention and control ordinance (Code of Ordinances 9-31 thru 9-36) intended to reduce the risk of flood damage to insurable structures and help ensure the safety of our citizens. These ordinances prohibit development and regulate construction in designated floodplain areas to protect citizens, reduce property damage from flooding, and allow waterways to function naturally without obstructions.
All development within the regulated floodplain requires a Floodplain Development Permit. All permit applications must be submitted for review via the Build Lexington Portal and approved prior to any land disturbing activities taking place.
If your home or business is mapped within the Flood Hazard Area as delineated on the published Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), your mortgage company may require that you purchase flood insurance. Federally backed flood insurance is available for all properties in Lexington regardless of whether they are inside or outside the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated floodplain.
Find an insurance agent near you. The agent who helps you with your homeowners or renters insurance may be able to help you with purchasing flood insurance too. You can only purchase flood insurance through an insurance agent; you cannot buy it directly from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). If your insurance agent does not sell flood insurance, contact the National Flood Insurance Program’s Help Center at 1-800-427-4661 to request an agent referral.
The City of Lexington offers citizens the opportunity to receive alerts regarding inclement weather and public safety. To sign up to receive these alerts, click here.
Commonly Used Terms
Flood
The NFIP legal definition of a flood is a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow.
Floodplain
A floodplain is land which has been or may be covered by floodwater during a storm event. The FEMA designated floodplain includes both the floodway and flood fringe areas. The floodplain includes both the 500-year and 100-year flood plains which have a 0.2% and 1.0% chance respectively of flooding in a single year. The 100-year floodplain is also commonly known as the special flood hazard area (SFHA).The land does not need to be designated by FEMA to function as a floodplain. Any land adjacent to a body of water may be capable of being covered with floodwater during a storm. Development of any kind is not allowed in the 100-year floodplain without a permit.
Floodway
The floodway is a regulatory boundary that includes the channel of a river, stream or drainage way, and those portions of the floodplain where higher velocity and increased flood damage can be expected during a heavy flood. The floodway is considered a non-encroachment area and in Lexington; development of any kind is not allowed in the floodway.
Flood Insurance Rate Maps
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) depict the FEMA designated floodplain for the entire state of North Carolina. Flood Insurance Study have been completed, periodically updated, and are the basis for the FIRM. The FIRM establishes flood zones to determine areas of higher risk to flooding. In partnership with FEMA, North Carolina became the first state to assume responsibility for floodplain mapping.
FIRM maps for Lexington are effective March 16th 2009.
More Floodplain Management Information
See FEMA's flood mapping information categorized for homeowners, insurers, lenders, and surveyors. Learn how to read flood insurance rate maps, how to challenge a lender's determination that your property is in a flood zone, and more.
General Floodplain Information
North Carolina Department of Emergency Management
Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA)
To View Floodplain Maps
NC Flood Risk Information System (FRIS)
How to Read Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)