Duke University: What does Durham’s flood ordinance require for structures in special flood-hazard areas with a base flood elevation?

DIRECT ANSWER

Source guidance recorded on 2026-10-15T19:41:05.489Z. Confirm the applicable policy year, cohort and property jurisdiction before relying on time-sensitive facts.

Where BFE data is provided, the regulatory flood-protection elevation is the BFE plus two feet of freeboard. The UDO also defines substantial improvement as work costing at least 50% of the structure’s pre-work market value, subject to stated exceptions.