Local Ordinances for Climate Adaptation
Communities are on the forefront of climate change impacts. While federal and state policies can support or hinder local adaptation efforts, often through requirements tied to funding programs, local jurisdictions play a large role in building their own resilience through planning and land use regulations.
READ MOREThis portal provides a repository for examples of local ordinances, model ordinances, and other resources related to local planning and land use that can be used to help local governments adapt to climate change impacts. Beginning with flooding and floodplain management, this portal will be expanded in the future to encompass resources that address other climate-driven hazards.
SHOW LESSThis list of resources was developed alongside GCC's research: Local Ordinances for Climate Adaptation & Mitigation. Below are examples of local ordinances that have been enacted in different U.S. states to protect people and communities from flooding.
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West Hartford, Connecticut: Special Flood Hazard Area Regulations
Updated April 11, 2023
Since 2008, the Town of West Hartford, CT has passed updates to its development regulations for the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA; §177-8 of the municipal zoning code) that aim to protect people and the built environment from the impacts of flooding, notably expanding freeboard requirements in 2023.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Woodbury, New Jersey: Ordinance No. 2386.23 - Freeboard Regulations
May 15, 2023
In a bid to promote public health and safety while also limiting flood-related losses, the City of Woodbury, New Jersey, passed Ordinance no. 2386.23, which introduces regulations for development in flood hazard areas. Most notably, the ordinance establishes additional freeboard for critical facilities, and directly points to the authority of the American Society of Civil Engineers in its standard for Flood Resistant Design and Construction (ASCE 24) as the explanation for doing so.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
