How high must the home sit if the land is in a flood zone?

In mapped flood zones, the lowest floor generally must be at or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), and many communities add freeboard of 1, 2 or more feet. FEMA's manufactured home guide explains these rules for A zones and recommends placing the bottom of the steel frame at or above the BFE so floodwater stays out of floor systems. A FEMA disaster fact sheet suggests raising the frame bottom one foot above the BFE. Coastal V zones need engineered pile or column foundations that resist wind and waves together. FEMA also notes dry-stacked block piers have failed in moving floodwater, so reinforced piers or piles are preferred. Check the flood map and your floodplain administrator first.

Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.

Sources

• FEMA P-85, Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other HazardsFEMA
• Protect Your Manufactured Home from Flooding and Wind (FEMA DR-4884 fact sheet)West Virginia Emergency Management Division / FEMA