---
title: Duluth UDC § 837.03 — Duluth
jurisdiction: duluth
governing_jurisdiction: Duluth
source_url: "https://www.duluthga.net/UDC_ADOPTED_9.8.2025_Amended_7-13-26.pdf"
effective_date: "2026-07-13"
as_of: "2026-08-13"
canonical: "https://www.gwindex.net/code/duluth/837.03"
licence: "CC0-1.0"
---

# Duluth UDC § 837.03

Building Standards for Structures and Buildings Authorized Adjacent to the Future-Conditions Floodplain

**Governing jurisdiction: Duluth.** A "Duluth, GA" mailing address is usually NOT in the City of Duluth. Unincorporated Gwinnett is 67.3% of the county's land area and is governed by a different code, a different board and a different permit portal. Resolve the governing jurisdiction before answering any zoning question.


- **Article:** 8 — Environmental Protection
- **Pages in source:** 241
- **Adopted:** 2025-09-08
- **Amended through:** 2026-07-13
- **Source:** https://www.duluthga.net/UDC_ADOPTED_9.8.2025_Amended_7-13-26.pdf

## Text

Conditions Floodplain.

1. Residential Buildings. For new construction or substantial improvement of any principal residential
building or manufactured home, the elevation of the lowest floor, including basement and access to the
building, shall be at least 3 feet above the base flood elevation or 1 foot above the future-conditions flood
elevation, whichever is higher. Should solid foundation perimeter walls be used to elevate the structure,
openings sufficient to automatically equalize the hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls shall be
provided in accordance with standards of Section 837.01(5)(a).
2. Nonresidential Buildings. For new construction or substantial improvement of any principal non-
residential building, the elevation of the lowest floor, including basement and access to the building, shall
be at least 1 foot above the level of the base flood elevation or at least as high as the future-conditions
flood elevation, whichever is higher. Should solid foundation perimeter walls be used to elevate the
structure, openings sufficient to automatically equalize the hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls shall
be provided in accordance with standards of Section 837.01(5)(a). Non-residential buildings may be
floodproofed in lieu of elevation.