Floodplain Management & The National Flood Insurance Program
Floodplain management regulates development within Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) to improve community resilience. Building standards and minimum requirements follow the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA and State requirements to reduce flood risk.
Effective state and community floodplain management programs help reduce the negative impacts of flooding.
Learn more about and apply to join the NFIP with the documents below:
Community Application Packet For Communities Not Currently Mapped By FEMA (PDF)
Community Application Packet For Communities Currently Mapped By FEMA (PDF)
Benefits Of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (PDF)
Local Government Joining NFIP Resources (FEMA)
2025 Floodplain Management Authority Updates
Updates to floodplain management authority for cities, counties, and townships went into effect August 1, 2025.
Participating communities need to update their ordinance and submit a certification form to DWR to be in compliance with state and federal requirements.
Floodplain Management Authority Update Resources
Floodplain Development
Each NFIP participating community is responsible for managing floodplain development in compliance with state and federal laws. NFIP communities appoint a Floodplain Administrator to fulfill this function. The Floodplain Administrator is the local resource for any floodplain management questions. A floodplain development permit must be obtained from the local Floodplain Administrator before beginning any work in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
The floodplain development permit should be the last permit issued for any project in the SFHA.
Per N.D.C.C. § 61-16.2-14, the DWR must provide a review of the development within the regulatory floodway prior to a floodplain development permit being issued.
List Of Local Floodplain Administrators (PDF)
Application For Floodway Review (SFN 61171) (PDF)
Floodway "No-Rise" Certificate (SFN 61173) (PDF)
Structures located in SFHAs that are substantially damaged or improved by more than 50 percent must fully comply with all applicable floodplain regulations. Local Floodplain Administrators are responsible for Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage (SI/SD) determinations required for NFIP participation.
To support this process, the State of North Dakota provides the following resources:
North Dakota Substantial Damage Plan Fundamentals (PDF)
North Dakota Substantial Damage Program Overview (PDF)
SI/SD Community Checklist For Local Officials (PDF)
Guided Community Self-Assessment For SI/SD Compliance (PDF)
Risk MAP was initiated in 2009 to identify, assess, communicate, and mitigate flood hazards. The program provides quality data to increase public awareness and reduce risks to life and property.
Base Level Engineering (BLE) data is a FEMA non-regulatory product that provides flood hazard information beyond FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps. BLE data includes base flood elevations, water depth, and water velocity derived from large-scale engineering models
North Dakota Local Officials Floodplain Toolkit (PDF)
FEMA Map Service Center – Locate A Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
Base Level Engineering Resources (FEMA)
North Dakota Risk Assessment Map Service
The North Dakota Risk Assessment Map Service (NDRAM) allows users to view current flood risks, including approximate floodplains from BLE and effective regulatory floodplains from FEMA’s NFIP. Users can also view water surface elevations, flood depths, download engineering model data, and print customized maps.
Floodplain Management Quick Guide For North Dakota (PDF)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA Information Resource Library
Association Of State Floodplain Managers
FEMA Letter Of Map Change Forms
MT-1 Form (Letter of Map Amendment and Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill) (PDF)
MT-2 Form (Conditional Letters of Map Revision and Letters of Map Revision) (PDF)
MT-EZ Link (Instructions for a single structure or lot Letter of Map Amendment) (PDF)
Information
For more information, contact the Regulatory Division at (701) 328-4956 or e-mail.