The rainy season is upon us here in South Georgia. A floodplain is any area covered by water during normal water flows, and which could be inundated as a result of storm runoff and if your house or property is on land that is subject to flood, you will know it soon. What you may not know is how this flooding will affect your ability to get a fencing permit and exactly what type of fence you are able to have. According to FEMA’s guidelines, you have a few extra rules to follow.
You will need a permit. If the fence you want will be within a regulatory floodplain, a Floodplain Use Permit is required. While Building Codes are concerned about the height of fences for visibility and structural reasons, the bottom of the fence, up to the flood level, are of greatest concern for this permit. Even short fences have the potential to push water onto nearby land, causing increased erosion and flooding of adjacent homes.
They can’t obstruct the flow of water. Fences and privacy walls may obstruct
or divert flood flow and waves, causing big problems. For this reason, before your fencing permit will be approved, your request must be analyzed for its effects on flood conditions
and the effects of debris generated by your fence’s failure during flood events. It is presumed that open fences, like wood and vinyl with slats and generous openings, will not lead to harmful diversion of floodwaters.
Fences with smaller openings and solid fences may be prone to trapping debris and should be avoided. Solid vinyl fences and privacy walls, those assumed to be fences prone to trapping debris, must be designed and constructed without causing harm to nearby buildings.
It will affect future buildings. If you do put up a solid fence, this will affect future buildings that are allowed to be put up nearby. Think about your future plans for your property, as a request for things like a tool shed or barn may be denied. This is because if the solid fence blocks water enough to then give way, the building right next to it will come crashing down with the wave.
It is crucial to know if you live on one and be sure to let Central Fence know so we can develop a fence for you that won’t obstruct water flow. This will be the safest thing for you, as well as the only way it will get approved to be put up. Don’t worry! We are fencing experts and have been doing this for years, so we can help get it all right.
