City of Baltimore
Baltimore City Code

§ 2-2. Subdistricts.

(a) In general.

(1) The Floodplain District comprises the subdistricts set forth in this section.

(2) In all floodplain districts, the flood-protection elevation is calculated as follows:

(i) In the tidal floodplain areas, it is the height and geographic extent of the 0.2% annual chance flood in the tidal area plus freeboard.

(ii) In the non-tidal floodplain areas, it is the extent of the 0.2% annual chance flood, and the height of the 1% annual chance flood plus freeboard.

(b) Floodway.

The Floodway is that part of the Floodplain District that is reserved to convey a base-flood discharge so that the cumulative increase in the water surface elevation of the base-flood discharge is no more than the height designated by FEMA in the Flood Insurance Study.

(c) Floodway Fringe.

(1) The Floodway Fringe comprises those lands within the Floodplain District that:

(i) are subject to inundation by a base flood; and

(ii) lie beyond the Floodway (where a floodway has been determined), or in areas where detailed study data, profiles, and base-flood elevations have been established.

(2) The Floodway Fringe appears on the Flood Insurance Rate Map as Zone AE.

(d) Approximated Floodplain.

(1) The Approximated Floodplain comprises those lands within the Floodplain District that:

(i) are subject to inundation by a base flood; and

(ii) lie in:

(A) areas for which a detailed study has not been performed, but a base floodplain boundary has been approximated; or

(B) areas that are subject to shallow flooding.

(2) A base-flood elevation must be established after consideration of any flood elevation and floodway data available from Federal, State, or other sources.

(3) The Approximated Floodplain appears on the Flood Insurance Rate Map as Zones A and AO.

(e) Coastal Floodplain.

(1) The Coastal Floodplain, also referred to as tidal floodplain, comprises those lands within the Floodplain District that:

(i) due to high tides, hurricanes, tropical storms, and steady onshore winds, are subject to coastal or tidal inundation by a base flood; and

(ii) lie in areas where detailed study data are available.

(2) The Coastal Floodplain appears on the Flood Insurance Rate Map as Zones A and AE, and includes areas encompassed by transects delineated by FEMA in the Flood Insurance Study. (In Zone AE, a designation on the FIRM indicating "Limit of Moderate Wave Action" refers to the landward limit of waves of 1.5 feet or more in height.)

(f) Coastal High Hazard Area.

(1) The Coastal High Hazard Area is the area within a special flood hazard area extending from offshore to the inland limit of a primary frontal dune along an open coast and any other area that is subject to high velocity wave action from storms or seismic sources. This area is designated on FIRMs as velocity zones V, VO, VE, or V1-30, and includes areas encompassed by transects delineated by FEMA in the Flood Insurance Study.

(2) The Coastal High Hazard Area appears on the Flood Insurance Rate Map as Zones V and VE.

(g) Flood Resilience Area.

See§ 1-3(c) {"Definitions: Flood Resilience Area"} of this Division I.