New Law Allows Raising of Flood-Prone Homes

Flood-prone homeowners will be able to raise their houses without seeking approval from local officials under a new state law.

Gov. Chris Christie signed the bill, A3890, into law Wednesday. The new law allows property owners to raise most existing structures on flood-prone properties up to a "new and appropriate elevation" set as either 3 feet above FEMA's base flood elevation or a flood elevation standard set by the state Department of Environmental Protection. It also allows property owners to bypass a request for a variance from towns if the new elevation exceeds what is allowed by local ordinances.

The bill was sponsored by District 39 Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, among other lawmakers. Officials said they hoped it would lower flood insurance rates for those repeatedly affected by storms.

"The lessons learned after the devastation caused by Super Storm Sandy were costly," Schepisi said in a press release. "Property owners are faced with the decision of whether or not they should incur the expense to raise their homes or face astronomical increases in their homeowners’ insurance. They shouldn’t be put in a Catch-22 position by an ordinance prohibiting them from conforming with FEMA’s recommendations."

Buildings which are below FEMA's base flood elevation — set at the elevation likely to be affected by a flood once every 100 years — face higher insurance premiums than those built above the elevation.