City of Marco Island Floodplain Management

Class 6

Address:        City of Marco Island, 50 Bald Eagle Dr., Marco Island FL  34145

Phone:            239-389-3926                       

Hours:            Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.                 

Floodplain Management is an essential day-to-day responsibility of the City of Marco Island.  With every property on the Island being in, on, or near a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the City is dedicated to educating the residents about flood safety and damage prevention of their: dwelling, personal belongings, and businesses.  

The City's responsibility is to promote public awareness of flooding from disasters and maintain participation in the Community Rating System program through the National Flood Insurance Program. 

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insures buildings, including mobile homes, with two types of coverage: building and contents. 

  1. Building coverage covers any damage to walls, floors, insulation, and other items permanently attached to the structure where a flood causes damage. 
  2. Contents coverage may be purchased separately; if the contents are in an insurable building. 

The Community Rating System (CRS) program is a voluntary program through the NFIP.  The CRS program encourages local municipalities to adopt and enforce a floodplain management ordinance to regulate flood hazard areas.  The CRS is a point system program with class ratings of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best and 10 being the worst. Currently, the City of Marco Island has a class rating of 6, warranting an automatic 20% discount on NFIP policies.

What you need to know when living and constructing in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

What is a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)?

  • The land area covered by the base flood's floodwaters is the Special Flood Hazard Area on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). The SFHA is the area where the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP's) floodplain management regulations must be enforced and the area where the mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies. The SFHA zones that apply to Marco Island include Zones AE and VE. https://marco.maps.arcgis.com 

National Flood Insurance Program and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).

  • FIRMs are official maps of a community on which FEMA has delineated both the special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.  The City of Marco Island's current map effective date is 05/16/2012.  This is the current FIRM information your flood insurance agent should be using to rate your policy.  FIRMS were established for the Island on 09/14/1979.

If you have questions regarding your flood insurance premium, please feel free to schedule an appointment to review your policy.

Recent results of helping one resident on the Island correct their flood insurance rating:

“Thanks to you, here are the results: my flood insurance premium is now $895; compared to $1,700.00 previously. FEMA awarded me a $2,155 refund and my insurance carrier awarded me a $1,610 refund.”

You must check your flood insurance premium annually to ensure you are being rated correctly to avoid overpayment or underpayment. 

As referenced above, the FIRM utilized for the flood insurance premium rating is also utilized in floodplain management regulations when constructing or altering a structure in a SFHA. 

Major components of a floodplain review consist of:

            1. Finished floor elevation

            2. Elevation of all machinery or equipment servicing the structure

            3. Enclosures/garages are vented accordingly with hydrostatic flood vents

            4. Commercial structures have proper flood panels; when floodproofed

The required elevation for all machinery and the lowest finished floor is determined by which flood zone the structure is located.  An Elevation Certificate is the only form utilized to confirm the lowest finished floor and machinery elevations.  An Elevation Certificate is required to be submitted with the building permit application.

All structures on Marco Island are subject to a floodplain review as part of the building permit process.  Any structure located in an SFHA that does not meet the above-referenced requirements is subject to FEMA's 50% rule, and additional paperwork is required.  The 50% rule is based on the structure's market value, and planned improvements or repair of damage cannot exceed its 50% value.  If the work or damage exceeds the 50% value, it will be considered Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage and will be required to be brought up to current floodplain guidelines.  For more information on the current floodplain management guidelines or your NFIP policy, please schedule an appointment.