Flood Maps & Resources

For information on the floodplain Maps, please contact the Engineering Department at 713-475-7835, or go to the FEMA Map Service Center for more information or to order maps or any other material.

Notice for Lending Officers, Realtors & Insurance Agents

As a public service, the Pasadena Engineering Department will provide you with the following information upon request:

  • Whether a property is in or out of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as shown on the current Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).
  • Additional flood insurance data for a site, such as the FIRM zone and the base flood elevation or depth, if shown on the FIRM.
  • We have a handout on the flood insurance purchase requirement that can help people who need a mortgage or loan for property in the SFHA.

If you would like to make an inquiry, please tell us the street address and (if available) the subdivision, lot and block number. We are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed from Noon to 1 p.m. for lunch). Call us at 713-475-4869. There is no charge for this service.

Elevation Certificates

The City also has completed FEMA Elevation Certificates for buildings that were constructed in the floodplain since the early 1980s. The Elevation Certificates are held on record at the Permit Department.

Notice for Public in General

The City of Pasadena has available the following Flooding information documents at the Main Public Library in the City:

  • Above the Flood: Elevating Your Flood-prone House, FEMA-347, 2000
  • Answers to Questions about the National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA-387, 2001
  • Coastal Construction Manual, FEMA-55, June 2000
  • Current City of Pasadena Flood Boundary and Floodway Map
  • Current City of Pasadena Flood Insurance Rate Map
  • Current Hazard Mitigation Plan
  • Design Guidelines for Flood Damage Reduction, FEMA-15, December 1981
  • Design Manual for Retrofitting Flood prone Residential Structures, FEMA-114, 1986
  • Elevated Residential Structures, FEMA-54, March 1984
  • Floodproofing Nonresidential Structures, FEMA-102, May 1986
  • Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting, FEMA-312,1998
  • How to Use a Flood Map to Protect Your Property, FEMA-258, May 1995
  • Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines, FEMA-186, September 1999
  • Manufactured Home Installation in Flood Hazard Areas, FEMA-85, September 1985
  • Mitigation of Flood and Erosion Damage to Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, FEMA-257, October 1994
  • Planning for a Sustainable Future: The Link Between Hazard Mitigation and Livability, FEMA-364, 2000
  • Protecting Floodplain Resources, A Guidebook for Communities, FEMA-268, 1995
  • Repairing Your Flooded Home, FEMA-234,1992
  • A Unified National Program for Floodplain Management, FEMA-248, May 1994
  • Up to date directory of addresses and telephone numbers for local offices that can provide more information related to flood hazards