What matters for project planning
The City of Ann Arbor adopted a Floodplain Management Overlay Zoning District in 2021 that sets standards above the federal minimum, requiring new residential construction to have its lowest floor elevated at least 1 foot above the mapped 0.2%-annual-chance flood elevation. The city has also taken part in FEMA's Community Rating System since 2017, reaching Class 6 in 2018 -- worth checking with the city's floodplain and stormwater programs before foundation, grading, or exterior work begins.
Official sources
Verify the property, not just the city
Citywide rules are a starting point, not a substitute for parcel-level facts. Confirm flood zone, historic designation, permit requirements, soil conditions, and any concealed construction for the specific Ann Arbor address with the relevant authority and provider.
Sources reviewed 2026-07-19. Maps and municipal rules get updated on their own schedule, separate from ours.