Floodplain Regulations

The Pinal County Flood Control District strives to regulate safe building in
flood hazard areas. By following some simple guidelines and respecting our
environment and the property rights of others, we can all build homes and structures that survive the rain storms while protecting our families, possessions, and neighbors. Our goal is to minimize the loss of life and property from flooding by regulating floodplain development and adhering to the provisions of the law.

A.R.S § 48-3647 requires the Pinal County Flood Control District to publish a directory summarizing the subject matter of all of the currently applicable ordinances, codes, regulations, and substantive policy statements in one location as they pertain to development in the floodplain. This webpage will serve as such directory.

Laws/Regulations

The following list of laws governs the way that floodplains are developed in Pinal County. When reviewing permit applications and engineering reports, the Pinal County Flood Control District ensures all proposed projects meet the minimum provisions of these governing documents.

Pinal County

Bonito Canyon, Pinal County, August 26, 2003

Pinal County Drainage Ordinance
Pinal County Floodplain Ordinance
Pinal County Subdivision Regulations

Arizona Executive Order77-6: Floodplain Management
Arizona Revised Statutes Title 48, Chapter 21, Article 1

A.R.S § 48-3601: Definitions
A.R.S § 48-3602: Organization of county flood control district
A.R.S § 48-3603: powers, duties and immunities of district and board; exemptions
A.R.S § 48-3604: Establishing zones in the district
A.R.S § 48-3605: Assistance for floodplain delineations; duties of the director
A.R.S § 48-3606: Assistance for topographic mapping
A.R.S § 48-3607: Director may contract for work
A.R.S § 48-3608: Assistance in flood insurance program
A.R.S § 48-3609: Floodplain delineation; regulation of use; federal requirements
A.R.S § 48-3609.01: Watercourse Master plans; definition
A.R.S § 48-3610: Assumption of powers and duties by cities and towns; resolution; definitions
A.R.S § 48-3611: Citizens' flood control advisory board; qualification; functions
A.R.S § 48-3612: Board of review
A.R.S § 48-3613: Authorization required for development in watercourses; exceptions; enforcement
A.R.S § 48-3614: Declaration of public nuisance; abatement
A.R.S § 48-3615: Violation; classification; civil penalties; strict liability
A.R.S § 48-3615.01: Notice of violation; hearing; final decision; civil penalty; injunctive relief
A.R.S § 48-3615.02: Judicial review; remedies
A.R.S § 48-3616: Survey and report of flood control problems and facilities; comprehensive program;
A.R.S § 48-3617: Development of flood control plan by director of water resources
A.R.S § 48-3618: Resolution calling for bond election; notice; manner of conducting election
A.R.S § 48-3619: Form, issuance and sale of bonds; limitation on bonded indebtedness;
A.R.S § 48-3620: Certification and levy of taxes; limitation
A.R.S § 48-3620.01: Joint projects by zones
A.R.S § 48-3620.02: Authority for zone projects
A.R.S § 48-3621: Right-of-way
A.R.S § 48-3622: Permission required to connect to storm water drain; fee; violation; classification
A.R.S § 48-3623: Authority to issue refunding bonds; procedure; disposition of proceeds
A.R.S § 48-3624: Cooperation in flood control projects
A.R.S § 48-3625: Limitation on powers
A.R.S § 48-3626: Compliance; enforcement
A.R.S § 48-3627: Reimbursement for county services
A.R.S § 48-3628: Condemnation actions; interest

Arizona Revised Statutes Title 48, Chapter 21, Article 2

A.R.S § 48-3641: Definitions
A.R.S § 48-3642: Regulatory bill of rights
A.R.S § 48-3643: Inspections; applicability
A.R.S § 48-3644: Prohibited acts by district
A.R.S § 48-3645: Licensing time frames; compliance; exemption
A.R.S § 48-3646: License application process
A.R.S § 48-3647: Directory of documents
A.R.S § 48-3648: Complaints; board of review
A.R.S § 48-3649: Clarification of interpretation
A.R.S § 48-3650: Exemptions

Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 59-149 (National Flood Insurance Program)

Part 59: General Provisions
Part 60: Criteria for land management and use
Part 61: Insurance coverage and rates
Part 62: Sale of insurance and adjustment of claims
Part 63: Implementation of section 1306(c) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968
Part 64: Communities eligible for the sale of insurance
Part 65: Identification and mapping of special hazard areas
Part 66: Consultation with local officials
Part 67: Appeals from proposed flood elevation determinations
Part 68: Administrative hearing procedures
Part 69: [Reserved]
Part 70: Procedure for map correction
Part 71: Implementation of coastal barrier legislation
Part 72: Procedures and fees for processing map changes
Part 73: Implementation of section 1316 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968
Part 74: [Reserved]
Part 75: Exemption of State-owned properties under self-insurance plan
Part 76–77: [Reserved]
Part 78: Flood mitigation assistance
Part 79: Flood mitigation grants
Part 80: Property acquisition
Part 81-149: [Reserved]

International Building Code (2012 Edition)
International Residential Code (2012 Edition)
International Plumbing Code (2012 Edition)
International Mechanical Code (2012 Edition)
International Fuel Gas Code (2012 Edition)
International Fire Code (2012 Edition)
International Property Maintenance Code (2012 Edition)
International Energy Code (2006 Edition)
National Electrical Code (2011 Edition)

ADOT Roadway Engineering Manuals (Main Page)
ADOT Highway Design Manual - Hydrology
ADOT Highway Design Manual - Hydraulics
ADOT Bridge Group: Bridge Design Guidelines

Guidelines for Investigating Land Subsidence and Earth Fissure Hazards

SS1-97: Requirement for Flood Study Technical Documentation
SS2-96: Requirement for Floodplain and Floodway Delineation in Riverine Environments
SS3-94: State Standard for Supercritical Flow (Floodway Modeling)
SS4-95: State Standard for Identification of and Development within Sheet Flow Areas
SS5-96: State Standard for Watercourse System Sediment Balance
SS6-05: State Standard for Development of Individual Residential Lots within Floodprone Areas
SS7-98: State Standard for Watercourse Bank Stabilization
SS8-99: State Standard for Stormwater Detention/Retention
SS9-02: State Standard for Floodplain Hydraulic Modeling
SS10-07: State Standard for Hydrologic Modeling Guidelines
Arizona State Office of Manufactured Housing - Minimum Standards for Manufactured Housing Foundations in Floodplains

Document 54 - Elevated Residential Structures
Document 85 - Manufactured Home Installation in Flood Hazard Areas
Document 102 - Floodproofing Non-Residential Structures
Document 116 - Reducing Flood Losses in High Risk Flood Hazard Areas: A Guidebook for Local Officials
Document 213 - Answers to Questions about Substantially Damaged Buildings
Document 259 - Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures
Document 265 - Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas Document 301 - Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Coverage
Document 312 - Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting
Document 347 - Above the Flood: Elevating Your Floodprone House
Document 348 - Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage
Document 480 - National Flood Insurance Program Floodplain Management Requirements
Document 511 - Reducing Damage From Localized Flooding
Document 758 - Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage Desk Reference
Document MitDiv-12 – Appeals, Revisions, and Amendments to National Flood Insurance Program Maps
Elevation Certificate and Instructions
Executive Order 11988: Floodplain Management
Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners
Letter of Map Amendment and Letter of Map Revision-Based on Fill Process
National Flood Insurance Manual
Technical Bulletin 1: Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures
Technical Bulletin 2: Flood Damage-Resistant Materials Requirements
Technical Bulletin 3: Non-Residential Floodproofing – Requirements and Certification
Technical Bulletin 4: Elevator Installation
Technical Bulletin 5: Free of Obstruction Requirements
Technical Bulletin 6: Below-Grade Parking Requirements
Technical Bulletin 7: Wet Floodproofing Requirements
Technical Bulletin 10: Ensuring that Structures Built on Fill in or Near Special Flood Hazard Areas are Reasonably Safe from Flooding
Technical Bulletin 11: Crawlspace Construction for Buildings Location in Special Flood Hazard Areas

HEC-9 Debris Control Structures Evaluation and Countermeasures
HEC-18 Evaluating Scour at Bridges
HEC-20 Stream Stability at Highway Structures
HEC-22 Urban Drainage Design Manual
HEC-23 Bridge Scour and Stream Instability Countermeasures
Document TS-80-218 Underground Disposal of Stormwater Runoff
Hydraulic Design Series Number 5 - Hydraulic Design of Highway Culverts
Hydraulic Design Series Number 6 - River Engineering for Highway Encroachments
Stream Stability at Highway Structures

Association of State Floodplain Managers: NO ADVERSE IMPACT: A Toolkit for Common Sense Floodplain Management
City of Apache Junction Master Storm Drain Report
City of Maricopa Master Drainage Study and Plan
City of Tucson Drainage Design Manual
Maricopa County Drainage Design Manual - Hydrology
Maricopa County Drainage Design Manual - Hydraulics
Uniform Standard Details for Public Works Construction [MAG]

Pinal County ADMP Rules of Development
Pinal County Drainage Manual Volume I
Pinal County Drainage Manual Volume II
Amendment to Pinal County Drainage Manual
Pinal County Subdivision & Infrastructure Design Manual
Sand & Gravel Application Guidelines

HEC-1 Flood Hydrograph Package User's Manual
HEC-HMS User's Manual
HEC-RAS User's Manual

Wetlands Delineation Manual

Guidelines for Determining Flood Flow Frequency Bulletin 17B
Selection of Manning’s Roughness Coefficient for Natural and Constructed Vegetated and Non-Vegetated Channels