Ocean City Tries to Help Owners Find Target Elevation for Homes

City Council on Thursday gave a nod to two ordinances that help owners find the moving target as they build homes to meet new flood elevation requirements.

Amended Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance: City Council unanimously passed the first reading of a flood damage prevention ordinance that lets the city use the less restrictive FEMA flood maps released on Aug. 27 or the "best available flood hazard data" (as newer versions of the flood maps are approved). The maps determine required elevations for new or substantially reconstructed homes in Ocean City. See Agenda Packet for complete text of ordinance. The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Sept. 26.

Elevations in X Zones: The new FEMA preliminary work maps for flood elevations put some areas of Ocean City in 'X Zones' — with no recommended elevations yet assigned. City Council passed an ordinance that would apply the highest base flood elevation from any neighboring zone to the X Zone. By being conservative, the ordinance can "provide some certainty for builders," Planner Randy Scheule said. A second reading is scheduled for Sept. 26.