Multi-Hazards Mitigation Plan/Floodplain Management Plan
The current Floodplain Management Plan has been consolidated into the Louisville Metro Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Hazard Mitigation Plan is a 5-year plan developed to meet the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and the Community Rating System. The plan covers 13 hazards likely to affect the Louisville Metro area: flood, dam/levee failure, drought, earthquake, extreme heat, hail, hazardous materials, karst/sinkholes, landslide, severe storms, severe winter storms, tornadoes, and wildfire.
The current Louisville Metro Multi-Hazards Plan can be found below:
2023 Louisville Metro Hazard Mitigation Plan
Watershed Master Plan
The Watershed Master Plan was developed for Louisville Metro by MSD. MSD assumed responsibility of the community’s public stormwater system, along with the flood protection system, in 1987. The basis of this WMP was MSD’s original Watershed Master Plan, which was created in 1988 as part of the Stormwater Drainage Master Plan. The purpose of this plan is to help effectively manage present and future regional stormwater drainage in Louisville Metro.
Watershed Master Plan Maps
HS-1 Hydric Soils Open Space Map
Middle Fork Beargrass Creek Watershed
Middle Fork Beargrass Creek Aerial
Middle Fork Beargrass Creek Drainage
Middle Fork Beargrass Creek Soils
Middle Fork Beargrass Creek Land Use
Middle Fork Beargrass Creek Floodplain
Muddy Fork Beargrass Creek Watershed
Muddy Fork Beargrass Creek Aerial
Muddy Fork Beargrass Creek Drainage
Muddy Fork Beargrass Creek Soils
Muddy Fork Beargrass Creek Land Use
Muddy Fork Beargrass Creek Floodplain
South Fork Beargrass Creek Watershed
South Fork Beargrass Creek Aerial
South Fork Beargrass Creek Drainage
South Fork Beargrass Creek Soils
South Fork Beargrass Creek Land Use
South Fork Beargrass Creek Floodplain
Cedar Creek Watershed
Floyds Fork Watershed
Goose Creek Watershed
Harrods Creek Watershed
Mill Creek Watershed
Ohio River/City Watershed
Ohio River/City East Floodplain
Ohio River/City West Floodplain
Pennsylvania Run Watershed
Pond Creek Watershed
Floodplain Management Ordinance
Our nation’s floodplains are regulated by federal, state, and local regulations. The Commonwealth of Kentucky and Louisville Metro regulates construction and development in floodplains so that buildings will be protected from flood damage. The regulations require a floodplain permit before you start any repair, renovation, development, improvement, or construction. Development means any changes to the property, including filling, regarding, and excavating. Also, our floodplain ordinance requires houses substantially damaged by fire, flood, or any other cause must be elevated one foot above the flood level.
The local floodplain ordinance includes strict requirements for both new construction and development in the floodplain. Therefore, you will need a floodplain permit before starting construction. All development in the floodplain requires two floodplain permits: one from the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW), and a local permit from MSD.
Example Floodplain Regulations:
- Construction or filling cannot reduce the ‘storage capacity” for floodwaters in a floodplain.
- All new roads must be elevated at or above the floodplain elevation.
- The first floor a new residential structure must be at two feet above the floodplain elevation, other structures must be at least one foot above the floodplain elevation.
- Changes, improvements, and additions must meet the substantial improvement requirement for Pre-FIRM structures.
2022 Louisville Metro Floodplain Ordinance
For more information on how to apply for a permit to develop in a floodplain, visit permitting or contact Lori Rafferty.
