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Building Responsibly in a LEARN ABOUT
BUILDING
Special Flood Hazard Area R E S P O N S I B LY
The effects of construction within the floodplain must be carefully considered.
Before you build, fill, or otherwise develop in the floodplain, contact the Newport
News Permit office at permits@nnva.gov or 757-933-2311 to discuss regulations in
more detail.
The Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is an area of high flood risk as determined by FEMA. FEMA
flood maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) show the location of flood zones and the
predicted elevation of the water surface for a 1% or greater annual chance of flooding (sometimes
called the 100-year storm), known as the Base Flood Elevation.
Do you know if you’re in a Special Flood Hazard Area?
There are different types of zones within the
SFHA that are characterized based on the
potential type of flooding that may occur.
A zones — areas with a 1% or greater annual
chance of flooding, affected by riverine and
urban flooding sources
V zone or Coastal High-Hazard Areas —
coastal areas with a 1% or greater chance of
flooding and additional hazard associated with
storm waves
Use the Virginia Flood Risk Information System
(VFRIS) at dcr.virginia.gov/dam-safety-and-
floodplains/fpvfris to determine if your property
is in one of these Special Flood Hazard Areas.
What does ‘Buyer Beware’ mean?
Virginia is a “Buyer Beware” state. This means that potential homebuyers
must do their due diligence in learning about a property prior to
purchase, including checking a property’s flood risk and any federal or city
regulations that apply to a property based on its location in a floodplain.Jump to an indexed page (75 of 75)