Development in the floodplain requires a Base Flood Elevation (“BFE”) certificate in addition to a Development Permit; and the final determination must be made by the Floodplain Administrator for Polk County. Please call the Permit Office at 936-327-6820. If you live in the city limits of Livingston, please call City Hall at 936-327-4311.

The U.S. Congress established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) with the passage of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. The NFIP is a Federal program enabling property owners in participating communities like Polk County to purchase insurance as a protection against flood losses in exchange for state and community floodplain management regulations that reduce future flood damages. Participation in the NFIP is based on an agreement between communities and the Federal Government. Polk County adopted and enforces a floodplain management ordinance in order to reduce future flood risk to new construction and substantially improve structures located in floodplains.

Flood InsuranceThe Federal Government makes flood insurance available within our community as a financial protection against flood losses. Flood insurance is designed to provide an alternative to disaster assistance to reduce the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods. Polk County encourages residents located within the floodplain to purchase flood insurance for their protection.