Rules and Procedures

Floodplain Management Ordinance, Title 16 of the Pima County Code

Current effective Ordinance

• Title 16, Floodplain Management Ordinance 2010 FC5, effective 6/3/2010.  
• Searchable PDF version of Title 16
• Ordinance 2014-FC1 Adopting New Rules of Administrative Procedures in Enforcing the Floodplain Management Regulations
• Resolution 2014-FC4 Appointing Flood Control Board of Hearing Review and Designating Hearing Officers
• 2020-FC1 - Flood Control District Relating to District Lands and Facilities; Revising the Public Lands and Facilities Ordinance. This Ordinance supplements 2018-FC1- Flood Control District Lands and Facilities Regulations

Past Ordinances (for reference only)

• 2005 FC2 Floodplain Management Ordinance
• Floodplain Management Ordinance 2005-FC2 Revision.  (The process of creating the 2010-FC5 version of the Ordinance.)

Incorporations by Reference

• Flood Insurance Study/Flood Insurance Rate Maps
• Design Standards for Detention and Retention   
  • This manual, adopted December 15, 2015, is a revision of the Detention-Retention Manual. Please see the Stormwater Detention-Retention Page for more information about the revision process and manual appendices.
  • Please see this presentation which introduces the new first-flush requirements.
• Standards Manual for Drainage Design and Floodplain Management
• Map of Critical Basins within Unincorporated Pima County
• Drainage and Channel Design Standards for Local Drainage

Riparian Habitat Guidelines

The revised Regulated Riparian Habitat Mitigation Standards and Implementation Guidelines (Onsite Guidelines)  and Regulated Riparian Habitat Offsite Mitigation Guidelines for Unincorporated Pima County (Offsite Guidelines)  were adopted by Pima County Board of Supervisors acting as the Board of Directors for the Pima County Flood Control District on November 15, 2011.  The revised Guidelines outline requirements for complying with Chapter 16.30 of the Ordinance and provide property owners and developers guidance on how to mitigate for impacts to Regulated Riparian Habitat.

• On-site Riparian Habitat Mitigation Plan (RHMP) submittal checklist
• Off-site Riparian Habitat Mitigation Plan (RHMP) In-Lieu Fee checklist
• Off-site Riparian Habitat Mitigation Plan (RHMP) Land Acquisition checklist
• In-lieu Fee Calculation Spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel format)

Additional resources can be found in the Riparian Habitat Mitigation Plan (RHMP) Tools tab on the Permitting Page.

 Technical Policies - Interpretation of Title 16 and Other Regulatory Documents

TECH-001	RESERVED	Effective:  N/A
TECH-002	RESERVED	Effective: N/A
TECH-003	Minimum Construction Requirements for Manufactured Home Foundations in Floodway Fringe Areas (with revised figures 003-A and 003-B, dated 1/30/2020)	Effective: 1/5/09, Rev. 11/24/10 (Figures rev. 1/30/20)
TECH-004	Delineating Regulated Riparian Habitat Disturbance	Effective: 3/19/14
TECH-005	Construction Standards for Fences and Walls within Regulatory Floodplains	Effective: 11/5/07, Rev. 05/18/2021
TECH-006	Erosion Protection for Fill Pads in Regulatory Floodplains	Effective: 3/23/06, Rev. 05/18/2021
TECH-007	Use of Piers for Site-built Structures within Regulatory Floodplains	Effective: 05/18/2021, Rev.  05/18/2021
TECH-008	RESERVED	Effective: N/A
TECH-009	RESERVED	Effective: N/A
TECH-010	Rainfall Input for Hydrologic Modeling	Effective: 3/15/07
TECH-011	Permitting Accessory Structures less than 200 square feet	Effective:  03/03/09, Rev.  05/18/2021
TECH-012	Methods to Estimate Maximum Anticipated Scour Depth Including Optional Adjustment for Flood Duration Local Scour Background Summary Report	Effective:  4/29/15
TECH-013	Regulation of Shaded Zone X Classifications	Effective:  6/19/07, Rev. 12/30/09
TECH-014	Erosion Protection of Stem Wall Foundations in Regulatory Floodplains	Effective:  8/31/09, Rev.  05/18/2021
TECH-015	Acceptable Methods for Determining Peak Discharges	Effective:  10/1/07, Rev. 05/18/2021
TECH-016	Acceptable Methods for Floodplain Delineation	Effective:  12/1/07
TECH-017	Applicability of and Acceptable Methods for Sediment Transport Analysis	Effective:  11/24/14
TECH-018	Acceptable Model Parameterization for Determining Peak Discharges	Effective:  4/1/11, Rev. 05/18/2021
TECH-019	Standards for Floodplain Hydraulic Modeling	Effective:  11/19/12
TECH-020	Engineering Analysis Requirements for Determining an Alternative Safe Erosion Hazard Setback Limit	Effective:  11/16/11
TECH-021	Use of Flood Resistant Materials Below the RFE	Effective:  3/3/08, Rev. 12/2/2015
TECH-022	Use of Flood Openings, Applicability and Requirements	Effective:  11/02/09, Rev. 05/18/2021
TECH-023	Structures That are Allowed to be Wet Flood Proofed	Effective:  11/02/09
TECH-024	Avoidance and Minimization Requirements When a Project Contains Regulated Riparian Habitat	Effective:  05/18/2021
TECH-025	Permitting Guidelines for Sand, Gravel and Other Excavation Operations Located within Flood and/or Erosion Hazard Areas	Effective:  11/07/11
TECH-026	Regulation of Single-Lot Development within Flow Corridors	Effective:  05/18/2021
TECH-027	Protective Measures for Private Vehicular Access	Effective:  5/25/11
TECH-028	Pre-Ordinance Agricultural Berms, Channels and Stock Ponds	Effective:  5/18/12
TECH-029	Electrical Facilities That Are Considered "Critical Facilities"	Effective: 12/30/10
TECH-030	Construction, Maintenance and Repair of Unpaved Roads	Effective:  4/29/15
TECH-031	Anchoring Requirements for Sheds and Tanks	Effective:  PENDING
TECH-032	Permitting Single-Lot Alternative Energy Installations	Effective 8/27/14
TECH-033	Criteria for Two-Dimensional Modeling An amendment to this policy has been drafted specifically for FLO-2D. It is pending approval by the Board of Supervisors FLO-2D Technical Guidance for Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling (DRAFT)	Effective: 8/1/13, Rev.  05/18/2021
TECH-034	Lee More Basin Design Hydrology Requirements (PENDING)	Effective: PENDING
TECH-035	RESERVED	Effective:

Technical Procedures - For Uniform Implementation of Technical or Complex Tasks 

 

TECH-101	Determining Base Flood Elevations in Regulatory Floodplains with Detailed Studies  Base Flood Elevation Calculation Spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel format, right-click and choose "Save as" option to download)  Revised 1/24/2012	Effective: 1/25/06 Rev. 10/11/11
TECH-102	Site Plan Requirements for Permit Review	Effective: 12/20/12
TECH-103	Covenant (Indemnification Agreement) Use Guidelines	Effective: 6/19/07, Rev. 11/15/13
TECH-104	Evaluating and Adjusting the Riparian Classification Maps	Effective: 3/19/14
TECH-105	Criteria for Approval of Development Without an FPUP	Effective: 8/27/14
TECH-106	Ordinance Determination of Applicability	Effective: 1/25/06
TECH-107	TBD	Effective: TBD
TECH-108	Permitting Improvements to Non-Conforming Uses	Effective: 3/3/08, Rev. 05/18/2021
TECH-109	Licensing Procedure for Compliance with A.R.S. § 48-3645	Effective: 3/14/13
TECH-110	Using Certificates of Coverage to Reduce Certain Important Riparian Area (IRA) Mitigation Requirements under Watercourse and Riparian Habitat Protection and Mitigation Requirements (16.30)	Effective:  05/18/2021, Rev.  05/18/2021
TECH-112	Requirements for LOMR Submittals	Effective:  PENDING
TECH-113	Construction/Elevation Certificate Management Plan (CCMP) Please see also the following policy memo: Establishing a local datum for Elevation Certificates within Zone A Special Flood Hazard Areas and sheetflow floodplains	Effective: 5/23/07, Rev. 5/11/2022
TECH-114	Requirements for Content of Hydrologic and Hydraulic Reports (hereinafter referred to as Drainage Report)	Effective: 11/1/07, Rev. 12/2/2015
TECH-115	Permitting within Regulatory Sheet Flood Areas	Effective: 11/2/09
TECH-116	Quantitative Methods for Regulated Riparian Habitat Boundary Modifications and On-Site Vegetation Surveys	Effective: 11/15/2013

Manuals

Engineering Manuals

• Design Standards for Detention and Retention 
  • The Stormwater Detention-Retention Manual has been revised. Please see the Stormwater Detention-Retention Page for more information.
  • Please see this presentation which introduces the new first-flush requirements.
• Standard Manual For Drainage Design and Floodplain Management
• The PC-Hydro manual for hydrology can be found on our Software page.
• Pima County Storm Drain Design Guidelines and Standard Plans

Riparian Habitat Mitigation Guidelines

• Regulated Riparian Habitat Mitigation Standards and Implementation Guidelines (Onsite Guidelines)
• Regulated Riparian Habitat Offsite Mitigation Guidelines  (Offsite Guidelines)

Flood Response Field Manual

• Administrative Procedure 202 - Flood Response Guidelines and Field Manual

District Standards - To Standardize Work Products

DS-301	Field Data Collection and Processing Methods	Effective: 5/12/2011
DS-302	Ground and Aerial Survey Standards	Effective: 5/12/2011
DS-303	Computer Aided Drafting and Design Standards	Effective: 5/12/2011
DS-304	Soil Cement Repair Standard	Effective: 10/24/2011
DS-305	Standards for Floodplain Work Maps	Effective: 1/28/2014, Rev. 11/3/2015

Other Rules, Policies and Procedures

• Administrative Procedure 225:  Regulated Riparian Habitat Mitigation Requirements for Pima County Department of Transportation Roadway Projects
• Guidelines for Establishing Scour and Freeboard for Bridges in Pima County - RFCD and PCDOT, August 2012
• Increasing Pier Widths for Debris Loading in Hydraulic Models  - Policy Memorandum
• Establishing a local datum for Elevation Certificates within Zone A Special Flood Hazard Areas and sheetflow floodplains
• Table of Regulatory Discharges
• Rule Clarification - Runoff Detention Systems Requirements of Ordinance Section 16.48.040
• Memorandum on Section 404 permit compliance statements
• Infiltration Study for Deep Foundations in Ephemeral Streams, Naresh C. Samtani, NCS Geo Resources
  • Infiltration Study Final Report for Drilled Shaft Foundations of Magee Road and La Cholla Boulevard Bridges over the CDO Wash, July 15, 2011. 
  • Note: The 2011 report demonstrated that a stream bed in Pima County should experience saturation to a relatively shallow depth which dissipates within a short time frame. Since 2011, additional studies have updated some of the procedures, and designers should refer to the article “Infiltration Study for Deep Foundations in Ephermeral Streams”, 2020, for guidance in using current best practices.