City Of Bozeman
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NEW Flood Insurance Rate Maps
New Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Bozeman Creek and its tributary streams have been recently completed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The FIRMs are effective April 21, 2021 for regulatory purposes under the National Flood Insurance Program. In conjunction with this work FEMA's Flood Insurance Study for Gallatin County has also been revised.
Flood Insurance Rate Maps identify flood hazards that are generally classified into three categories of flood risk severity: the Regulated Floodway, the 100-Year Floodplain, and the 500-Year Floodplain. The Regulated Floodway and 100-Year Floodplain represent the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Any mortgaged building in the SFHA is mandated by federal law to carry flood insurance.
City of Bozeman floodplain regulations apply to development located in the SFHA shown on the new FIRMs. The 500-Year Floodplain is advisory in nature only, so floodplain regulations and mandatory flood insurance requirements do not apply to these areas. A lender may, however, at their discretion require flood insurance for new loans for property in the 500-Year Floodplain.
Flood Insurance
Any building with a federally secured loan or mortgage located in the Special Flood Hazard Area shown on a Flood Insurance Rate Map is required by federal law to carry a flood insurance policy. Buildings that are newly mapped into the Special Flood Hazard Area must obtain flood insurance coverage within 45 days following April 21, 2021. If a flood insurance policy is not obtained by the property owner then the lender will force place coverage.
Be sure to talk with your insurance agent about cost savings options that may apply to newly mapped buildings. Further information on obtaining reduced rate insurance coverage for newly mapped buildings is provided below.
Flood policies may be purchased from qualified local insurance agents. To learn more about the NFIP or to locate a local NFIP insurance agent visit floodsmart.gov.
Floodplain Map Viewer
Use the Floodplain Map Viewer to determine if your property is located in the Special Flood Hazard Area. The floodplain map viewer shows the same SFHAs and 500-Year Floodplain as the April 21, 2021 Flood Insurance Rate Maps within a user friendly platform.
Owning Property in a Floodplain
City of Bozeman floodplain regulations and federal flood insurance requirements apply to developments in a Special Flood Hazard Area mapped on a Flood Insurance Rate Map. More information on general flood risk areas mapped on a Flood Insurance Rate Map are provided below:
Floodplain Permits
A floodplain permit is required for all actives and/or development occurring within the SFHA unless specifically exempted in BMC 38.600.240. For questions regarding floodplain permits please submit through the Community Development’s ASK BZN button.
The requirements for a permit floodplain permit can be found in BMC 38.600.180. The City’s application review fee is $100.
The referenced Joint Application can be found on the Montana DNRC website.”
Emergency Management
Flood hazards are generally characterized on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps issued by FEMA. However, FIRMs do not map flood hazards for every waterway within the City. Flood hazards may exist for any property located adjacent to waterways whether FEMA has officially mapped the floodplain or not. Gallatin County Emergency Management is responsible for coordination of public safety agencies during a flooding emergency. To learn what you can do to prepare for a flooding event visit readygallatin.com/flooding.
Real-Time Stream Gauge Data
The United States Geologic Survey (USGS) maintains an active stream gauge on the East Gallatin River near the Bozeman Water Reclamation Facility. See a complete listing of all USGS stream gauges in Montana. Those interested may sign up for the USGS Water Alert service for the East Gallatin stream gauge and receive email or text alerts when user-defined gauge data thresholds are exceeded.