Brazoria County Requires New Homes to Be Built Two Feet Above FEMA's Flood Elevation

In 2007, the Brazoria County Commissioners Court set a freeboard rule. Any new building in a Special Flood Hazard Area must sit at least two feet above FEMA's Base Flood Elevation. Federal rules only require the floor to reach that elevation. Building two feet higher is a real safety margin.

After a 2015 flood, FEMA studied the results. Not one home built to Brazoria County's higher standard flooded. Homes that only met the federal minimum did flood. The county's rule has been called a best-practice model.

Building higher also cuts flood insurance costs. Going above the base flood elevation usually lowers NFIP rates. The exact savings depend on the elevation certificate and rating details for each home. If you are building new or making a major improvement, the county permit office will check that your elevation meets the rule. See current details at brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/floodplain.