Floodplain

Floodplain & the National Flood Insurance Program

The City of Peoria participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As an NFIP participant, the City agrees to adopt and enforce a floodplain management ordinance which includes the mapping and rating of flood prone areas. In exchange, the NFIP provides Federally backed flood insurance to property owners and renters in Peoria.

Flood Insurance Risk Levels on Existing Structures

The flood risk level of a property is based on engineered flood levels and the lowest floor elevations of a property. FEMA publishes the locations of the various flood risk zones in Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Citizens can find free printable Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRMettes) at the FEMA Map Service Center. Properties that fall below the 1% annual chance flood levels may be required by law to carry flood insurance.

If you feel that your property has inadvertently been designated in a Flood Hazard Area, you may submit property and elevation information to FEMA for review. If the request for removal from the Flood Hazard Area is approved, a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) will be issued. A copy of this LOMA may be provided to your lender to request that the flood insurance requirement be removed. Please note that some lenders may require flood insurance as a condition of the loan regardless of FEMA designation. Consult your lender prior to beginning the process.

For more information on your property and its designation, contact the Permits Section of Public Works 309-494-8800. For more information on LOMAs, see the FEMA website.

New Construction or Renovation in Flood Hazard Areas

All new construction, expansion or renovation within or adjacent to a designated Flood Hazard Area must have approval from the City of Peoria Floodplain Manager. Contact the City of Peoria Right-Of-Way Permits Section for more information.

In order to build a new structure on a lot that at any point crosses a designated Flood Hazard Area, builders must provide the estimated lowest floor elevation to the Right-Of-Way Permits Sections prior to obtaining building permits. The lowest floor elevation must be two feet above the base flood elevation (BFE). A permit for the foundation only will be issued at that time. Once the foundation is in place, a FEMA Elevation Certificate must be completed by a licensed surveyor and submitted to the Right-Of-Way Permits Section. Once the Elevation Certificate is received, the Office of Building Inspections will release the full building permits and the builders will be allowed to proceed with construction.

Additional requirements may apply to large-scale commercial projects or to those considered in the "floodway." Often properties along the Illinois River are subject to the floodway regulations. Contact the Floodplain Manager for more information.

For more information on the elevation certificate, see the FEMA website.

FEMA Elevation Certificate Information

Contact Information

For more information on floodplain risk designations or construction in a risk zone, contact the City of Peoria Right-Of-Way Management and Permits Section.