Louisiana Floodplain Management — La. R.S. 38:84 + NFIP Compliance (LA)
Tracked preemption from the Louisiana overlay bundle.
Overview
← All state preemptionsLouisiana overlay roll-upLouisiana zoning wikiLouisiana building codesFederal overlaysGlossaryFederal-conflict: Yes
Effective
1973-01-01
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:LA
Other Louisiana preemptions
Mississippi River Industrial Corridor + Atchafalaya Basin — Informational OverlayCoastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) — Coastal Master PlanLouisiana Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) / Brownfields — La. R.S. 30:2271 et seq.Tax Increment Financing & Economic Development Districts — La. R.S. 33:9038 et seq.Louisiana State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act (SLCRMA) — Coastal Use PermitsLouisiana Constitutional Home Rule — Art. VI §§4–5Levee Districts and Levee Servitudes — La. Const. Art. VI §38 + La. R.S. Title 38Louisiana Historic Preservation — National Register Districts + La. R.S. 25:731 et seq.
Trigger predicate
When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.
AND
city.in_floodplain_management_jurisdiction==Trueparcel.in_femap_special_flood_hazard_area==True
Preempted fields
2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.
| Field | Op | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
review_type | require | floodplain_development_permit | Local government floodplain administrator must issue a Floodplain Development Permit for any development in an SFHA. State coordination via DOTD Floodplain Management section under La. R.S. 38:84. |
base_districts[*].min_finished_floor_elevation_ft | floor_at | bfe_plus_freeboard_per_local_ordinance | Lowest floor elevated to or above BFE (often BFE + 1–3 ft freeboard depending on the local NFIP ordinance). Pre-FIRM substantial-improvement rule applies (50% rule). |
Citation
Authority source
La. R.S. 38:84 (state coordinator for floodplain management); 44 CFR 60.3 (NFIP minimum criteria adopted by reference in local ordinances); Stafford Act / NFIA
§ La. R.S. 38:84 (DOTD coordinator); local NFIP-compliant ordinance
Research notes
Louisiana is the most flood-exposed state in the U.S. Local floodplain ordinances are NFIP-driven; the state DOTD Floodplain Management section coordinates statewide. Federal conflict check enabled because the binding source is FEMA's 44 CFR 60.3 and the FIRM. CRS (Community Rating System) participation lowers flood insurance premiums in many Louisiana communities. Substantial-improvement and substantial-damage determinations are the principal redevelopment constraint after major events (post-Ida, post-Laura, post-Katrina).