What is the Goal of Floodplain Management?
A floodplain or flood-prone area is any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source other than a dam break. Henrico’s floodplains take up nearly 24,000 acres of land. Understanding where they are located and how flooding occurs there can help the County better protect itself and its residents. Approximately 88% of the floodplains are mapped by FEMA, while the remaining 12% are mapped by the County. There are approximately 1,500 residential and commercial structures that sit in floodplains in Henrico and many of them experience problems with drainage.
The goals of Henrico County’s floodplain management programs are:
- Reducing flood damage to property
- Helping residents participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- Fostering comprehensive floodplain management for community-wide resilience
Explore Key Topic Areas
Overview: This page provides essential guidance on floodplain regulations, permitting requirements, and technical resources to ensure safe and compliant development within flood-prone areas. This information is best suited for:
- Residents
- Business owners
- Contractors & developers
Overview: This page provides resources to assess your flood risk and inform decision-making about purchasing property in or near flood-prone areas. This information is best suited for:
- Residents
- Business owners
- Prospective homebuyers
- HOAs & Community Associations
- Insurance agents, lenders, & realtors
Overview: This page provides information about the importance of natural floodplain functions and how the community can contribute to protecting floodplains. This information is best suited for:
- Residents
- Business owners
- Contractors & developers
Overview: This page provides details on the steps that Henrico County is taking to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from changing flood hazards. It also provides details on how the community can get involved. This information is best suited for:
- Residents
- Business owners
- Contractors & developers
- HOAs & Community Associations
- Insurance agents, lenders, & realtors
Overview: This page provides information on the importance of insuring your property, next steps on purchasing insurance, and guidance on property-level mitigation measures that you can take. This information is best suited for:
- Residents
- Business owners
- HOAs & Community Associations
- Insurance agents, lenders, & realtors
Overview: This page provides critical information on preparing for and taking action to protect yourself, your family, and your community during a flood. This information is best suited for:
- Residents
- Commuters
- Business owners
- Disaster responders
How is the County Addressing Flooding?
Henrico County is undertaking a number of initiatives to help address flooding, including:
- National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): Managing the County’s NFIP participation includes reviewing permits for development in and near the floodplain.
- Flood Maps: Reviewing flood studies and map changes. Henrico’s FEMA flood maps changed as of April 25, 2024. Learn more about the FEMA map updates.
- Public Information: Providing flood-related information to the public.
- Community Rating System: Seeking insurance discounts and increased resiliency through the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS). Beginning October 1, 2024, Henrico County residents with an NFIP flood insurance policy will be eligible for a 25% discount on their annual premium, whether they live in a high-risk flood zone or not. Learn more about Henrico’s CRS program by visiting our Protect and Insure Property page.
- Voluntary Acquisition Program: Launching a Voluntary Acquisition Program to allow property owners to sell their flood-prone properties to the County for fair market value.
- Interdepartmental Coordination: Coordination with other County departments such as Planning, Building Inspections, Recreation and Parks, Emergency Management, and other divisions of Public Works.
- Planning and Response: Collaboration on flooding response and recovery efforts, hazard mitigation planning, and hazard mitigation grant opportunities.
Get A Flood Insurance Quote
Want to understand how much flood insurance may cost you? Visit FloodSmart.gov to get a quote using your address and basic information about your home. Because the County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS), NFIP policies receive a 25% premium discount. You can also visit our Protect and Insure Property webpage to learn more.