Rockwall County Development Services

Floodplain Development Permit (Rockwall County)

A business that builds or develops a site in a floodplain in unincorporated Rockwall County needs a county floodplain development permit before work starts. The county's Development Application Handbook, revised November 26, 2024, states: "A permit is required for all construction or development within the floodplain or Areas of Special Flood Hazard within jurisdiction of Rockwall County." Its Floodplain Development Permit Checklist lists the site development permit application fee, a signed site development permit application, a brief letter describing the work in the floodplain, a 22"x34" site plan, scaled development plans (including the proposed lowest floor elevation and floodproofing details), plans showing any watercourse relocation or fill, and "a flood study demonstrating that the development will not flood downstream neighbors". The county's Subdivision and Land Development Regulations (Sec. 7.9) state that a property owner desiring to develop within a FEMA flood hazard area "will be required to provide a flood study, which will be provided at the owner's expense", reviewed and approved by the Commissioners Court. The county's Commercial Permit Application also asks whether the property is in a floodplain and, if so, for a flood plain certificate. The fee is set by the county; contact Development Services, 1101 E. Yellowjacket Ln, Suite 130, Rockwall, TX 75087, 972-204-7600, for the current amount.