FEMA Flood Code Update Meeting

The City of Milwaukie, Oregon held a meeting to discuss upcoming updates to floodplain regulations in response to new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements. The city is working to revise its floodplain code to maintain eligibility for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) while incorporating new standards focused on no net loss of flood storage capacity, water quality, and riparian vegetation. The meeting covered the challenges of balancing development with environmental protections, the potential impacts on property owners, and the complexities of coordinating overlapping regulations such as tree removal, natural resource buffers, and floodplain development standards. The city is pursuing adoption of a FEMA model ordinance with local modifications and aims to clarify requirements to streamline permitting processes. Public input and further clarifications are expected in upcoming hearings, with an emphasis on clear, objective standards to reduce uncertainty for property owners and developers.