Flood Protection Information

  1. Flood Hazard & Mapping
  2. Flood Insurance
  3. Floodplain Development Requirements
  4. Property Protection
  5. Flood Warning & Flood Safety
  6. Drainage System Maintenance

Floodplains provide a wide range of benefits to human and natural systems. They serve as flood storage and conveyance and reduce flood velocities and flood peaks. Floodplains and wetlands provide breeding and feeding grounds for fish and wildlife, create and enhance waterfowl habitats, and protect habitats for rare and endangered species. They provide open space, aesthetic pleasure, and areas for active uses such as parks, playgrounds, and ball fields. The flood hazard areas in the City of Denton are located mainly along Cooper Creek, Pecan Creek, North Pecan Creek, Hickory Creek, Dry Fork Hickory Creek, and their tributaries. The City of Denton Capital Projects Department tracks ongoing projects which include drainage and flood hazard improvements.

Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify different levels of flood risks. The location of a property relative to certain flood zones indicates what restrictions may be placed on new and substantially improved construction and is also a factor when agents rate structures for flood insurance. Please see the information provided in the "Floodplain Development Requirements" tab and the "Flood Insurance" tab for additional details. The City of Denton has adopted the latest Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) effective April 18, 2011, and June 19, 2020, as issued by FEMA. Visit FloodSmart, the official FEMA site for the National Flood Insurance Program, to understand your flood risk. 

City of Denton flood risk areas are also displayed using the City of Denton Interactive Map. At the right side of the page, check the FEMA box to see what layers are available through the City’s Geographic Information System (GIS). Floodplain maps are also available for reference in the Capital Projects & Engineering Department at the City Development Service Center located at 401 N. Elm St. and any Denton Public Library. For homes that were built prior to the date of the effective FIRM, it may be helpful for citizens to have access to all the historical maps to know what flood zone was in effect at the time of construction. Knowing this information can be critical if there is a dispute with a mortgage lender or insurance agent, especially if properties change flood zones when the revised maps go into effect. You can visit FEMA's Map Service Center to see current maps and historical maps.