The purpose of a floodplain ordinance is to prevent:
Loss of life and property
Creation of health and safety hazards
Disruption of commerce and governmental services
Extraordinary and unnecessary expenditure of public funds for flood protection and relief
Impairment of tax base
Regulation
The Floodplain Management Ordinance for Rockingham County is in place to effectively regulate development in the FEMA-designated, 100-year floodplain. The specific requirements of the floodplain ordinance state that all development in the designated floodplain shall not raise the base flood elevation by more than one foot. This is achieved through the use of elevation certificates, flood studies, and flood proofing after determining the nature of the development.