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re: looking at building a house in a flood zone
Posted on 3/31/15 at 8:57 am to mandevilletiger34
Posted on 3/31/15 at 8:57 am to mandevilletiger34
I am currently about to build in flood zone AE here in East Baton Rouge parish.
The BFE is 25 feet and I am being required to build at 27.2 feet because of a sanitary sewer manhole that is at 26.2 feet (have to be a foot higher than that)
Dirt is cheap, flood insurance is not. I plan on bringing in fill dirt to bring the top of my slab to 28 feet and deal with the aesthetics of having my slab 3 feet higher than anything else surrounding it later.
The BFE is 25 feet and I am being required to build at 27.2 feet because of a sanitary sewer manhole that is at 26.2 feet (have to be a foot higher than that)
Dirt is cheap, flood insurance is not. I plan on bringing in fill dirt to bring the top of my slab to 28 feet and deal with the aesthetics of having my slab 3 feet higher than anything else surrounding it later.
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:04 am to mandevilletiger34
You own the lot already?
If not, I'll sell you a better one in the same flood zone in Lewisburg in Mandeville
If not, I'll sell you a better one in the same flood zone in Lewisburg in Mandeville
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:04 am to Jimbeaux28
I'm trying to figure how high I would have to build off the ground using the address below as a similar house in the same subdivision.
479 E Chase Ct
Mandeville 70448
LINK
479 E Chase Ct
Mandeville 70448
LINK
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:07 am to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
quote:
You own the lot already?
If not, I'll sell you a better one in the same flood zone in Lewisburg in Mandeville
where are we talking?
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:07 am to mandevilletiger34
quote:
479 E Chase Ct
Mandeville 70448

hint: look across the street.
Parents just sold it. Flood insurance was insane. We were only up 10' though.
All of those houses are raised up, they just don't look raised up. In Mville as long as there's no bathrooms/stuff on first level, it is considered raised
ETA: my lot is better.
LINK
This post was edited on 3/31/15 at 9:11 am
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:26 am to mandevilletiger34
email me
This post was edited on 3/31/15 at 9:49 am
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:35 am to Jimbeaux28
quote:
I plan on bringing in fill dirt to bring the top of my slab to 28 feet
They gave you the OK to do that?
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:37 am to Slickback
Slick back is right, twice.
The flood zone is an elevation. Remember this.
The flood zone is an elevation. Remember this.
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:37 am to mandevilletiger34
quote:
I'm trying to figure how high I would have to build off the ground using the address below as a similar house in the same subdivi
Go to Koop Drive and talk to the Engineering Department. They will have the latest maps and regs.
There is a ton of bad information in this thread.
You don't want any surprises.
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:39 am to N2cars
quote:
Go to Koop Drive and talk to the Engineering Department. They will have the latest maps and regs.
There is a ton of bad information in this thread.
You don't want any surprises.
Nah, he needs to buy my lot instead. I'll walk him through the zoning, insurance, design, and construction if he wants.
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:40 am to N2cars
quote:
They gave you the OK to do that?
I am expected to lift to 27.2. How do the expect me to do that if I can't bring in dirt?
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:41 am to N2cars
quote:
I plan on bringing in fill dirt to bring the top of my slab to 28 feet
They gave you the OK to do that?
For real. DEQ will shut your arse down with the quickness you start filling a "wetland" (btw a pine savannah in SE LA is considered a wetland, also anything you need flood insurance on as well 99% of the time).
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:42 am to Jimbeaux28
quote:
I am expected to lift to 27.2. How do the expect me to do that if I can't bring in dirt?
piers
or you can get a permit. You may not need one, but chances are if you are at risk for flood insurance, you're gonna need a permit/mitigate to fill the lot.
This post was edited on 3/31/15 at 9:43 am
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:45 am to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
quote:
For real. DEQ will shut your arse down with the quickness you start filling a "wetland" (btw a pine savannah in SE LA is considered a wetland, also anything you need flood insurance on as well 99% of the time).
What if the fill dirt comes from my lot?
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:49 am to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
I figured I would need to have my fill inspected to make sure I wasn't impacting the neighbors with run off. Wasn't aware that I would need a permit to bring in fill dirt.
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:50 am to Jimbeaux28
I'd talking to city planning and zoning department if I were you.
you may be able to get away with it, but I bet you are going to change the drainage situation, which is technically what they don't want to happen.
Or just do it, and build fast before anyone notices
you may be able to get away with it, but I bet you are going to change the drainage situation, which is technically what they don't want to happen.
Or just do it, and build fast before anyone notices

Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:52 am to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
quote:
Or just do it, and build fast before anyone notices
I wish I had the balls to gamble the cost of construction on this. Lol
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:52 am to N2cars
quote:
VetteGuy
quote:
Are you saying you can add fill to bring a lot/pad above BFE?
Absolutely. Now the tricky part is depending on where you build. If you're on waterfront property in some cases they may require you to purchase a commensurate amount of land in a "wetlands landbank" but I'm sort've going off on a tangent here.
But yes, I did it personally and other people bring in fill to ensure that your lot is less prone to flood and also to ensure your pad/slab is above BFE.
ETA: Vette, I forgot the OP said he's in a VE. Deeeeefinitely changes my advice. Sorry for the confusion. I did not do this in a VE. Pier and beam elevation would be the answer here.
This post was edited on 3/31/15 at 9:57 am
Posted on 3/31/15 at 9:55 am to mandevilletiger34
quote:
am looking at building a house in a flood zone: VE
I don't know exactly what that means but my flood insurance went from 480 to 1300 FML
so don't build in the governments racket to refill FEMA's coffers
Posted on 3/31/15 at 10:11 am to GFunk
quote:
dirt pad
VE zone.
Dirt won't work.
That close to the lake, he'll have to be 12-16' above the base... pilings only and break-away walls if he wants to close in the lower portion.
Insurance won't be out of control.
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