King County waterfront property owners have been surprised by the recent inclusion of their properties within coastal floodplains. Puget Sound coastal and near-coastal homeowners need to be aware of new restrictions and limitations to their property:
Much of the populated Puget Sound shorelines has been designated coastal floodplains, including new floodplain maps for Vashon Island. Homeowners in these floodplain areas may be required to carry flood insurance.
The floodplain designation also includes severe restrictions for new shoreline construction and for remodeling of existing structures.
If you intend to buy, remodel or re-finance a home designated in a floodplain, you will be faced with purchasing flood insurance, unless you can provide documentation that the first floor of the property is 3 feet above the Base Flood Elevation. Flood insurance can be expensive. Ellisport Engineering can work with you to determine your floor elevation. Specifically, our engineers will work with you to resolve your floodplain issues by:
If your house’s first floor is below the BFE, then we can
discuss your options: raise the house, vacate the lower story and use for
storage, move the house to higher ground.
There are options, often more affordable than you might think.
If you plan on building or remodeling in the floodplain,
there are special foundation requirements, breakaway walls, and other design
considerations. Here too, we can help.
To learn more, click on the following page links on our website: Floodplain Background, Flood Insurance,Building in a Floodplain , and Important Web Links , then give us a call at 206-463-5311 to see how we may help you save money on flood insurance.
