No-rise Certification for Floodways

The purpose of this page is to define No-Rise Certifications, a commonly used term in floodplain management.

Definition/Description

Any project in a floodway must be reviewed to determine if the project will increase flood heights. An engineering analysis must be conducted before a permit can be issued. The community's permit file must have a record of the results of this analysis, which can be in the form of a No-rise Certification. This No-rise Certification must be supported by technical data and signed by a registered professional engineer. The supporting technical data should be based on the standard step-backwater computer model used to develop the 100-year floodway shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Boundary and Floodway Map (FBFM).

NFIP Requirement

• 60.3 (d) (3) - Floodway Requirement

Other Applicable NFIP Regulations

• 60.3 - Criteria for land management and use
  • (c) (10)
  • (d) (2)

Guidance

• IS-9 Managing Floodplain Development Through The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (pages 5-22, 5-23, and 7-59)

Related Keywords

• Certifications
• Encroachments
• Floodway

Special Topic Resources

• Managing Floodplain Development (IS-9)
  • Encroachment Review (5-21 to 5-24)
  • Example No-Rise Certification (5-23)