HUD Floodplain Management, Wetlands Protection & Federal Flood Risk Management Standard

Current understanding

HUD is proposing to rescind its April 2024 rule that implemented the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) for HUD-assisted and HUD-financed projects and updated floodplain and wetlands protection procedures under 24 CFR Part 55 and related Minimum Property Standards. The proposal would restore the pre-2024 regulatory baseline while retaining limited flexibilities related to floodways, categorical exclusions, and exemptions. Practical effects at stake include the elevation/floodproofing standard applied to HUD-financed housing (FFRMS higher standard vs. base 100-year floodplain), permitting/review burden, and exposure of federally supported properties to future flood risk.

Evidence log

• 2025-02-25 — Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2025: cross-connection with fema-individual-disaster-assistance: FEMA disaster housing assistance and HUD floodplain/FFRMS standards jointly shape how displaced households are re-housed in or out of mapped flood hazard areas. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-07-10 — Rescission of Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands; Minimum Property Standards for Flood Hazard Exposure; Building to the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard: cross-connection with hud-usda-housing-energy-efficiency-standards: Both concern HUD-imposed construction/property standards for federally assisted housing; the FFRMS rescission and energy efficiency standards represent parallel debates over the scope of HUD building requirements. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

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