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Floodplain Ordinances & Permit Forms
How do I know which ordinance is right for my town?
The ordinance requirement is determined by the kind of flood hazard identification map that has been provided to your community by the Federal Insurance Administrator. Early maps, before 1979, were done by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Maps from 1979 to present were done by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The more detailed the flood maps, the more detailed the community's floodplain management regulations must be. The National Flood Insurance Program Regulations at 44 CFR, Part 60.3 further tie the type and scope of minimum local regulations to the types of map.
The State of Maine's model floodplain management ordinances can be found here: Which ordinance is right for my town?
If you would like to receive a floodplain management ordinance that has been specifically tailored for your community, please contact the Maine Floodplain Management Program.
How does my town adopt a Floodplain Management Ordinance?
Simple instructions (PDF 150KB) showing how your community can adopt floodplain management regulations.
What changes have taken place in the state model floodplain ordinance since my town last adopted an ordinance?
The following links will show you the year the changes were made to the state model and where in the ordinance the language was changed.
- Ordinance Update 2015-16-17 (PDF 290KB)
- Ordinance Update 2009 (PDF 100KB)
- Ordinance Update 2007
- Update for 60.3 (b) Floodplain Management Ordinance (PDF 12KB)
- Update for 60.3 (c) or 60.3 (d) (PDF 11KB)
- Update for 60.3 (e) (PDF 123KB)
- Ordinance Update 2005 (PDF 142KB)
- Ordinance Update 2002 (PDF 14KB)
- Ordinance Update 2000
- Update for 60.3 (b) Floodplain Management Ordinance (PDF 110KB)
- Update for 60.3 (b) coastal (PDF 110KB)
- Update for 60.3 (c) or 60.3 (d) (PDF 110KB)
- Update for 60.3 (c) or 60.3 (d) coastal (PDF 110KB)
- Update for 60.3 (e) (PDF 110KB)
- Ordinance Updates 1998 and 1999
- Update for 60.3 (b) Floodplain Management Ordinance (PDF 170KB)
- Update for 60.3 (b) coastal (PDF 180KB)
- Update for 60.3 (c) or 60.3 (d) (PDF 180KB)
- Update for 60.3 (c) or 60.3 (d) coastal (PDF 190KB)
- Update for 60.3 (e) (PDF 200KB)
- Ordinance Update 1997 (PDF 150KB)
- Ordinance Updates 1987-1996 (PDF 90KB)
Many of these changes are based on concerns and recommendations from local officials. There are many new sections under Article VI - Development Standards including provisions for Accessory Structures, Containment Walls, Bridges, and Wharves, Piers, and Docks.
There is also a Conditional Use section which has been added to facilitate the permitting of lobster shacks and fishing sheds located seaward of mean high tide in coastal communities.
The model ordinance which follows is a strike through/underline version showing the changes which were made to the model in 1998 & 1999. The 1998 additions are underlined and the deletions are strikethrough. The 1999 additions are double underlined and the deletions are bold and strikethrough.
The ordinance shown here is a coastal model for communities with velocity zones shown on their maps. We have chosen this model to post here as it is the most inclusive of all of the model ordinances. Please contact us if you would like a copy of this document which coincides with your current floodplain management map and ordinance.
Flood Hazard Development Application and Permit Forms
Does the development require a Flood Hazard Development Permit? Follow the Decision Tree (PDF 37KB) (MS Word 150KB) to find out.
The appropriate Flood Hazard Development Permit Application Form and Two Part Permit Forms are determined by the level of flood hazard identification shown on the flood map for your community. The more detailed the flood maps, the more detailed the community's flood hazard development permit application and permit forms will be. See the links below to find the appropriate versions for your community. At the bottom of the page, you will find links to the remaining forms that complete the Flood Hazard Development Application and Permit Package.
Your community should use the 60.3(b) Flood Hazard Development Permit Application and Two Part Permit Forms (PDF 150KB) (MS Word 56KB) if the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Hazard Boundary Map for your town:
- is an 11" x 17" "Flat Map" also known as an "Approximate Method Map" without base flood elevations. The Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are identified with a capital letter A without any number following the letter (i.e. A Zone).
- is a Z fold map without any base flood elevations (if there are any flood elevations anywhere on any of the map panels, even though the majority of the zones are A zones then it is not a (b) community).
- is listed in the FEMA Community Status Book as Minimally flood prone (an M is next to the community's map effective date in the Status Book).
Your community should use the 60.3(c) or 60.3(d) Flood Hazard Development Permit Application and Two Part Permit Forms (PDF 150KB) (MS Word 55KB) if the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map for your town:
- is a Z fold map with base flood elevations having Special Flood Hazard Areas identified as an AE, A1-30, AH, and/or AO Zone.
- if there are base flood elevations anywhere on any of the map panels, your community needs this permit application form, even if some panels do not have AE, A1-30, AH or AO and all zones are labeled on the panel as A.
- has no identified regulatory floodway or coastal high hazard area OR has the "floodway" portion of the floodplain delineated on the FIRM with a cross hatched pattern, OR has a separate set of Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps delineating the floodway portion of the floodplain as a non shaded area.
Your community should use the 60.3(e) Flood Hazard Permit Application and Two Part Permit Forms (PDF 150KB) (MS Word 60KB) if the effective FIRM for your town:
- has any coastal Special Flood Hazard Areas identified as a VE or V1-30 Zones.
The following forms complete the state model Flood Hazard Development Application & Permit Package:
- Minor Development Permit (PDF 8KB) (MS Word 22KB)
- Conditional Use Permit (PDF 8KB) (MS Word 24KB) Please Note: This form can only be legally used if your local floodplain management ordinance contains the state standards for a conditional use.
- Floodproofing Permit for non-residential structures only (PDF 8KB) (MS Word 22KB)
- Certificate of Compliance (PDF 15KB) (MS Word 23KB)
- Hydraulic Openings Certificate (PDF 15KB) (MS Word 26KB)
- V Zone Certificate (PDF 15KB) (MS Word 26KB)
- FEMA Elevation Certificate - This link will take you directly to FEMA's web site where you may download the Elevation Certificate in PDF format.
- FEMA Floodproofing Certificate - This link will take you directly to FEMA's web site where you may download the Non-Residential Floodproofing Certificate in PDF format only.