Home Remodeling in
Centralia, WA

Centralia's floodplain rules do not apply to an existing home simply because it sits in the floodplain. They apply when the home undergoes a substantial improvement, or when it is being repaired after substantial damage.

The definition comes from the National Flood Insurance Program. A substantial improvement is any reconstruction, rehabilitation or addition whose cost equals or exceeds 50 percent of the building's market value before the work starts.

Cross that line and the whole building has to be brought up to current floodplain standards, not only the part being remodeled. That can turn a kitchen and bathroom project into one that involves raising the house. Knowing where the line sits before the scope is set is the single most useful thing a Centralia homeowner can find out.

Where the rules do apply, Centralia sets a higher bar than the federal minimum. Buildings in the city's 100-year floodplain need the lowest floor, and all materials that can be damaged by flooding, at least two feet above the base flood elevation.

That extra height is a design question, not a detail. It affects stairs and entries, what can go below the living space, and where equipment like furnaces and water heaters can sit. It is far easier to plan for at the start than to retrofit.

The flood insurance program requires the city to keep elevation certificates for new buildings in the flood hazard area, and they are needed to secure flood insurance. If your home has one, dig it out before planning anything.

Permit and floodplain questions go to the City of Centralia at 118 W. Maple Street, on 360-330-7671.

If there is any chance your home is in the floodplain, confirm it before design work starts. It is a quick check, and it decides which rules apply.