The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated
select flood maps for Lee County to better reflect local flood risks. These possible changes to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) may affect your property and flood insurance requirements.
For Unincorporated Lee County, only
six
map
panels may be affected. Click
here to see a map overview of the potentially affected map panels.
New FEMA Maps Take Effect: Expected Summer 2026 (proposed maps may change based on the outcome of the appeal process)
Appeal Information
Appeal Period Ends: September 30, 2025
During FEMA's
90-day appeal period, residents and business owners can submit technical data appeals or comments about the proposed map. This is your opportunity to provide feedback or point out corrections.
If you believe the FEMA map contains errors about your property and you have technical data or scientific information (such as hydraulic or hydrologic modeling), you may file an appeal. Minor corrections—such as a misspelled street name—may be submitted as a "comment". If you choose not to appeal, no action is necessary.
Click here to review FEMA's Appeal Start Letter.
All appeals and comments must be submitted to the Lee County Floodplain Management Team at the Department of Community Development, through
Forerunner or by calling 239-533-8948.
FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (Current & Proposed)
Review the current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map Panels
here.
Review the proposed FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map Panel Changes below.
Affects of FEMA Proposed Map Change
Effects vary by parcel, but fall into
four general categories:
Those who were not previously in need of flood insurance may eventually need it. Some properties will be newly classified as being in the Special Flood Hazard Area (also known as the flood zone). Mortgage lenders would subsequently require flood insurance for these structures.
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Those who already have National Flood Insurance Program policies should contact their insurance agent to determine if the proposed FEMA map changes will affect their premiums. Information about flood insurance premium rates must be obtained from an insurance agent.
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Within some Special Flood Hazard Areas, FEMA has designated regulatory floodways along some rivers, creeks or other water channels. A floodway is the surrounding ground area (near the water body) where the water will overflow in the event of a flood. FEMA regulates filling and construction in floodways to allow floodwaters to be discharged without raising surface water levels beyond a specific designated height. The regulatory floodway affected for this 6-panel map change is Mullock Creek and Mullock Creek Tributary. Most construction projects (i.e., sheds, fences, new homes, etc.) in a floodway require engineering certification. Many property owners along Mullock Creek floodway will benefit from these changes. Those who currently have stricter engineering requirements for proposed structures in the Mullock Creek Floodway may have those loosened as the majority of the floodway will be reduced to the banks of the creek. |
Properties that are currently in the X zone but will be mapped into the Special Flood Hazard Area (when the maps are finalized) will be subject to FEMA regulations for new structures as well as any type of repairs or renovations to a structure. This includes but is not limited to elevation requirements and adherence to the
50% rule. |
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The information below is specific to the FEMA Proposed Flood Map Changes and Appeal process.
Click
here for general Flood FAQ's, which may be helpful when determining the affects of the FEMA Proposed Flood Map Changes.
Property owners may disagree with the preliminary maps. Appellants will be responsible for identifying flaws in proposed modeling and errors in mapping and correcting them. See the
Appeal Information section above.
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