Floodplain Regulations
In order to make flood insurance and disaster assistance available to the citizens of unincorporated Sangamon County, the county participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). A very important part of this participation is the adoption and enforcement of a floodplain ordinance. The Sangamon County Board adopted such an ordinance on November 16, 1982, which was most recently updated in March 2004. The floodplain ordinance regulates development in the 100-year floodplain. The main purposes are:
- To protect human life & health,
- To prevent increased flood or drainage hazards,
- To protect buildings from damage,
- To decrease taxpayer costs related to flood control projects, flood damage repairs, and rescue operations,
- To maintain property values, and
- To make federal flood insurance available.
When A Permit Is Required
A floodplain development permit is required for any development in a 100-year floodplain.
Definition of Development
- Construction, reconstruction, placement or expansion of a building that exceeds 70 square feet or is valued at more than $1,000
- Substantial improvement: any repair, or improvement of a building the cost of which is 50% or greater than the market value of the building before work is started or before the building was damaged.
- Placement of a mobile home or manufactured home
- Placement of a travel trailer for more than 180 days
- Installing utilities, construction of roads, or similar projects
- Construction of levees, walls, fences, bridges, or culverts
- Placement of fill
- Excavating
- Drilling, mining, dredging, or grading
- Storage of materials including gas and liquid storage tanks
- Stream or river channel modifications
Development does not include:
- Maintenance of existing structures and facilities such as re-roofing buildings or re-surfacing roads, or
- Agricultural practices such as gardening or plowing.
How To Apply For A Permit
Floodplain development permit applications are available from the Planning Commission office or click on Floodplain Development Permit for a printable copy. Applications must include:
- Description of project,
- Scale drawing of site,
- Existing and proposed ground elevations (fill/excavation) and/or lowest floor elevations (structure),
- Engineer's certificate & calculations (fill),
- Permit or waiver from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Office of Water Resources, and
- $100 fee.
All new buildings/additions or substantially improved buildings must be elevated to one foot above the base flood elevation and require an elevation certificate upon completion.
Two copies of the permit application should be submitted to the Planning Commission office. An engineer will then review the documentation and a notification will be sent either with a permit or with a letter stating the reasons for denial. Inspections of the project will be arranged.
Building Protection
There are some buildings that were constructed many years ago in Sangamon County that are located in a floodplain. Some options for protecting these buildings follow. A floodplain development permit would be required prior to construction.
- Elevation of the structure to at least one foot above the base flood elevation
- Construction of barriers between the structure and flood waters
- Dry floodproofing or wet floodproofing.
Several informative documents on building protection can be found at Lincoln Library.
For more information call the Springfield Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission at 535-3110 or e-mail sscrpc@sangamonil.gov.