Model Floodplain Ordinance: Guidance and Draft Language for Campground Operations

Who it’s for: Local jurisdictions, floodplain administrators, and legal counsel responsible for floodplain regulations.

What it is: Draft ordinance language that jurisdictions can adapt to require Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for camps, campgrounds, and RV parks operating in flood-prone areas. It addresses common gaps in existing floodplain ordinances — including missing definitions, permitting requirements, floodway restrictions, and minimum standards for what a compliant EAP must include.

How to use it: Review the model language with your jurisdiction’s legal counsel and floodplain administrator, and adapt it to fit your local ordinance structure and state law. This resource works hand-in-hand with the EAP guide: while the guide helps camp owners build a plan, this ordinance language helps ensure that having one isn’t optional. 

This resource was developed by the Association of State Floodplain Managers.