HUD Issues New Flood Protection Rules

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new flood protection requirements for housing that uses federal funds, finalizing the rule last week, according to an article by Ysabelle Kempe in Smart Cities Dive. “The new rule revises HUD’s regulations to implement the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, a strengthened flood risk-reduction standard established in 2015 following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Sandy. Rather than using the 100-year floodplain, the agency will now base elevation and floodproofing requirements on the floodplains determined by this forward-looking standard.”

The rule comes as more communities face heightened flooding and displacement risk. “Despite real estate industry concerns that the rule will spike construction costs, HUD says it will save U.S. communities millions of dollars by reducing flood insurance premiums, building damage, relocation costs and loss of income during floods.” According to HUD, “while the rule could increase upfront construction costs, the costs of elevating new construction are marginal compared with the total construction price tag.”

The rule also updates regulations for multifamily housing insured by HUD, now requiring the lowest floor of projects to be at least two feet above the 100-year floodplain.