How Residents Could Get Flood Insurance Savings After A City Council Vote In Novato

NOVATO, CA — Novato leaders took a key step to preserve flood insurance discounts for residents in high‑risk areas at their late September meeting by updating the city's floodplain rules to match federal and state standards.

At the Sept. 22 meeting, the City Council held a public hearing and voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance revising a Novato municipal code to formally require one foot of freeboard — which is a building at least one foot above the base flood elevation — in flood zones.

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Staff said Novato had already been enforcing that standard through the California Building Code, but federal reviewers recently flagged that it was not written into the municipal code.

"Participation in this program enables people that are in these designated zones to get a rate discount on their insurance," said Councilmember Tim O'Connor .

City staff said Novato's current Class 6 rating in FEMA's Community Rating System gives qualifying policyholders a 20 percent break on federal flood insurance premiums.

Councilmember Pat Eklund how this could affect neighborhoods like Bahia, Hamilton, and manufactured home parks that may be below the sea level.

Staff said the practical requirements are not changing for most residents, because the city already used the one‑foot standard when reviewing permits in flood zones. The ordinance primarily codified existing practice so Novato could stay in CRS Class 6 and avoid dropping to a lower rating that would shrink insurance discounts, city officials said.