Floodplain Development

All development that takes place in the floodplain must meet the provisions set forth in the Pitt County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (PDF).

Definition

Development is defined as any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to:
  • Buildings or other structures
  • Dredging
  • Excavation or drilling operations
  • Filling
  • Grading
  • Mining
  • Paving
  • Storage of equipment or materials

Required Certificates

An elevation certificate or floodproofing certificate will be needed for structures located within the 100-year floodplain.

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping

Updated Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels and the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) Report for all of Pitt County became effective on June 19, 2020. These new maps were produced by the State of North Carolina under a unique partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Partnership Agreement

This partnership, signed September 2000, designates North Carolina as a Cooperating Technical State and delegates the primary responsibility for the creation and maintenance of all FIRMs to the State of North Carolina.

Purpose

The remapping of all floodplains for Pitt County is the result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Floyd, which flooded thousands of square miles of eastern North Carolina and left thousands of people homeless. This disaster highlighted North Carolina's vulnerability to natural disasters and the need for accurate, up-to-date floodplain maps. The State of North Carolina, through its Floodplain Mapping Program, has established a website that will be used to disseminate information on all aspects of the mapping program. Using this website you will be able to:
  • Download available digital floodplain data
  • Download the FIRM panels as well as the FIS Reports
  • Get information about the mapping program
  • View floodplain information online

Maps & Information

The official Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for Pitt County and the municipalities we assist can be viewed in our office. You can also access approximate floodplain data through the Pitt County website.

Floodplain Data Assistance

As a public service, Pitt County will provide you with the following information upon request:
  • Whether a property is in or out of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as shown on the current Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) of the County.
  • Additional flood insurance data for a site, such as the FIRM zone and the base flood elevation or depth, if shown on the FIRM
  • If we have a handout on the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement that can help people who need a mortgage or loan for a property in the SFHA.
  • If we have elevation certificates for recent construction on file.

More Information

If you would like to make an inquiry, please tell us the E-911 address, parcel number, or the owner's information. There is no charge for this service.