Building-Selling-Buying in Valley Lodge and Simonton since the Flood

 

JohnnyQ talks about what has changed since the hurricane and what’s stayed the same. In short, yes, you can still build in the areas that are either floodzones or floodways in Simonton or Fort Bend County, the rules have just changed a little. The city will require pier and beam, while the county has allowances for both in different situations. Good information If you are thinking of Building, Buying, or Selling in Valley Lodge or Simonton, Texas – post Hurricane Harvey.

 

I am not an attorney! If you need an attorney that handles FEMA and/or Building Permit issues, call Chris Ramey at 713-974-1333, he’s local.

If you need to speak with a Simonton official that can help you in the city limits regarding building permits or other questions, call 281-533-9809

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These are some of the docs I speak of in the video, along with some other helpful items.

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This is Chapter 8 of the Simonton, Tx Code of Ordinances, PDF:

Simonton, TX Building and Building Regulations

You’ll need this to go with it though, it’s the update and amendment that was added after the flood, PDF:

2017-12-Building-Regulation-24inches-BFE

This PDF is from FEMA, this is an overview of the federal bill that was signed into law in 2014:

Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act Overview

This is a two page PDF handout that the Feds put together for real estate professionals, letting them know what kind of things they should be telling their Clients. It’s a short but good read:

Help Protect Your Client’s New Home (Created July 2016) from FEMA

 

Detailed Digital Map of Fort Bend County. I love this map service. This is a great tool that everyone in FBC should be familiar with. Multiple layer choices with Flood/FEMA boundaries, Key Map grids, School Zones, City Limits and ETJs, Fire Districts and more. Just click the layer(s) you’re interested in:

Fort Bend County Digital Map

 

These two are not important files, but in the video I speak a little of the 1997 FEMA flood maps for Simonton. These two files are the fullsize FEMA maps from 1997. These are the maps that were in effect until the 2014 updated map became official. If you want your own copy you can download them here. These are large files.

http://katy-fulshear-realestate.com/public_docs/48157C0050J-1997.tif

http://katy-fulshear-realestate.com/public_docs/48157C0075J-1997.tif

 

If the Fort Bend Digital Map (above) isn’t doing the job for you, these 4 links are to download the fullsize FEMA maps for the Simonton area. These are large files.

http://katy-fulshear-realestate.com/public_docs/48157C0060L.tif

http://katy-fulshear-realestate.com/public_docs/48157C0070L.tif

http://katy-fulshear-realestate.com/public_docs/48157C0080L.tif

http://katy-fulshear-realestate.com/public_docs/48157C0090L.tif

 

The Preliminary FEMA Flood maps. The feds are nowhere near finished on this, but these three are the first group released for our area. PDFs:

Weston Lakes and Fulbrook FEMA preliminary Flood map dated Jan 2017, notice that they have added the Waterford Crest area into the 100 year floodzone: 48157C0095M-prelim

The Simonton area maps do not seem to show too much of a difference from the current maps, at least not yet:

Simonton south of 1093 and Weston Lakes west. Preliminary FEMA flood mapping from Jan 2017: 48157C0090M-prelim

Simonton north of 1093 with an eastern portion of Valley Lodge. FEMA prelim map dated Jan 2017: 48157C0080M-Prelim