Flood Control
Las Vegas ranks in the top 6 percent of communities in the United States to achieve a Class 5 rating on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Rating System. This high ranking translates into a 25 percent flood insurance rate reduction for city property owners within the flood zone.
Flood insurance is available for all properties at a low cost through the National Flood Insurance Program. If you would like to know if you live in flood zone, visit the Clark County Regional Flood Control District or the call the city's Flood Control Section at 702.229.6541. If you require a written determination, pursuant to the Las Vegas Municipal Code No: LVMC 13.40.050, adopted by the City Council on April 16, 2003. Effective May 27, 2003, a fee of $ 20 is to be charged for each official written Flood Zone Determination. Inquirer must allow two to three working days for the official flood zone inquiry response to be mailed out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pay in Person: Resident provides the property address and/or the Assessor Parcel Number with fee payment. Payment can be made by cash, check, money order or credit card payable to the city of Las Vegas. The Flood Control Section is located on the seventh floor in the Development Services Center building 333 N. Rancho Drive.
Pay by Mail: Resident provides the property address and/or the Assessor Parcel Number with fee payment. Mail your request with payment (by check or money order) to the following address:
City of Las Vegas Development Services Center, Flood Control Section (FZDL), 333 N. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89106.
Drainage Studies
We review and approve technical drainage studies addressing the existing, interim and future hydrological and hydraulic characteristics of developments within the city that are more than two acres and/or located within a FEMA designated flood zone. Any development within a flood zone requires a technical drainage study that shall be approved by the city, Regional Flood Control and FEMA prior to the city allowing permits for construction. The city requires a letter of map revision (LOMR) from FEMA once the project is complete to reflect the actual change to the flood zones. The city adds a $50,000 line item to the improvement bond to make sure that the LOMR is provided. We use a checklist submittal process to screen drainage studies submitted for review.
View our Minimum Drainage Study Checklist that must be completed by the engineer and submitted with the technical drainage study. An electronic copy of the complete submittal is required to be submitted with one original hard copy of the study.
The engineer preparing a drainage study must meet with the Flood Control Staff to preview the study prior to the city accepting it for review. Call 702.229.6541 to set up an appointment to submit a new drainage study. Refer to the Public Improvement Work fee schedule for any applicable fees. Once the study is accepted, the review time is two weeks or less.
All drainage studies must follow the Clark County Regional Flood Control District Hydrologic Criteria and Drainage Design Manual. Also available is the current Clark County Regional Flood Control District (CCRFCD) Master Plan Update. These documents are available from the CCRFCD, located at 600 S. Grand Central Pkwy. Suite 300. They can be reached via phone at 702.685.0000 or visit their website at ccrfcd.org.