Building Near the Colorado River Means a Floodplain Permit

The Colorado River runs through Bastrop County. Much of the low land along it sits in a FEMA flood zone called a Special Flood Hazard Area. The county requires a development permit for any work in unincorporated areas near water.

There are three permit classes. Class A is for land outside the floodplain. Conditional Class A is for land just outside the mapped edge but still at risk. Class B is for land partly or fully inside the 100-year flood zone.

Federal rules say that if you improve a flood-zone structure by more than 50 percent of its value, it must meet current flood-proofing standards. This is called the 'substantial improvement' rule (CFR 44). It can mean raising the building or doing major structural work.

Before you buy or build, look up the property at msc.fema.gov. Then call Bastrop County's Floodplain Manager at (512) 581-7159. You can also visit Development Services at 211 Jackson Street, Bastrop. The county recommends a pre-application meeting before you file.