Community Initiatives

Regulations that Exceed the Minimum NFIP Regulations

OEP and FEMA highly recommend that communities adopt regulations that exceed the minimum regulations that are contained in the state’s model floodplain ordinances. These minimum regulations do not account for the effects that floodplain development will have on future flood levels. Also, as floodplain development increases, the floodplain storage area decreases thereby causing adverse flooding affects on others in the floodplain and watershed.

OEP has compiled a list of communities around the state that enforces at least one regulation that exceeds the minimum NFIP regulations. The list also includes a link to the community’s ordinance on-line, when available.

For more information about the different types of higher regulations, please click on the links to the following references.

• FEMA’s Reducing Damage From Localized Flooding – A Guide for Communities
• Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Home Page
  • ASFPM No Adverse Impact – A Toolkit for Common Sense Floodplain Management 2003
  • ASFPM No Adverse Impact in the Coastal Zone (May 2007)
• FEMA’s NFIP Floodplain Management Requirements – A Study Guide and Desk Reference for Local Officials – Unit 6 – Additional Regulatory Measures

Community Rating System

FEMA’s Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program for participating communities of the NFIP. Communities can earn points for adopting and enforcing certain floodplain management regulations and activities. The number of points a community accumulates will decide what percent discount their residents will receive on their flood insurance premiums. Many times a community will receive points for activities or regulations that they are already conducting or enforcing.

A community can receive points for several activities that are organized under the following four categories: Public Information, Mapping and Regulations, Flood Damage Reduction, and Flood Preparedness.

In New Hampshire, five communities participate in the Community Rating System. The communities and the percent discount their residents receive include: Keene (10%), Marlborough (5%), Peterborough (10%), Rye (5%), and Winchester (5%).

For more information about Community Rating System, please visit FEMA’s web site.

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