Floodplain Management

Welcome to the Floodplain Management section of Story County's website. Story County has a long, established history of floodplain management programs, through the review of applications and issuance of permits to record-keeping to the relationship of floodplain management and hazard mitigation for properties in unincorporated Story County.

Our adopted Floodplain Management program looks at three aspects - Regulations, Mapping, and Flood Insurance. More details on each of these components may be found from the tabs to the left or in the boxes below.

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Floodplain Regulations

A floodplain development permit is required before any grading or construction takes place in a flood-hazard area. Please contact the County Floodplain Manager before you invest time or money in plans for an improvement to your property or in places for a new structure.

The adopted Story County Floodplain Management Ordinance is located in Chapter 80 of the Story County, Iowa Code of Ordinances. The Story County Flood Insurance Study contains information on flood profiles and additional flooding information that may be needed in the process of applying for a permit.

How to Apply?
Floodplain permits are required in order for development to take place in the mapped Special Flood Hazard Area. (Please note, Story County only issues permits for unincorporated properties - if you are inside a city, you will need to contact that City Hall.)

Application Process Overview

  • If you have a property in the mapped floodplain, a floodplain development permit may need to be applied for and granted prior to the development occurring. The floodplain maps are available at the Story County Assessor's mapping site at www.storyassessor.org or you can also view them at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. (Please note, Story County only issues permits for unincorporated properties - if you are inside a city, you will need to contact that City Hall.)
  • Once you have determined the location and that an application is required, you can access Story County's online permitting system to complete the necessary information and send to Story County.
  • The application is reviewed for completeness, and if all the requirements of Chapter 80 - Floodplain Management Program - of the Story County Code of Ordinances are satisfied, the initial permit will be issued. This is called the Pre-Construction Phase Permit, which grants the work to be undertaken. These are issued for a one-year timeframe, however, upon written request, may be extended.
  • After the work is completed, the applicant contacts the County Floodplain Manager to schedule the final inspection. If all the conditions of approval (if any exist) are satisfied and development is done as indicated on the application, the final Floodplain Permit is granted.