Federal: HUD proposes dropping the higher flood-elevation standard for assisted housing in floodplains
HUD's July 10, 2026 proposal would restore the 100-year floodplain as the standard for HUD-assisted and insured projects. Comments closed September 8, 2026. FEMA already stopped applying the higher standard to its own funding in March 2025.
This is a federal proposed rule, and it applies in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania wherever a project in a floodplain or wetland relies on mortgage insurance or financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD"). On July 10, 2026, HUD published a proposed rule to rescind most of its 2024 floodplain management rule, 91 Fed. Reg. 42685 (Docket No. FR-6527-P-01; RIN 2506-AC60), amending 24 C.F.R. part 55. Comments closed on September 8, 2026. The proposal is not in force, and projects are still reviewed under the 2024 rule until a final rule is published.
Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands (HUD proposed rule), 91 Fed. Reg. 42685 (July 10, 2026), 24 C.F.R. part 55; Docket No. FR-6527-P-01; RIN 2506-AC60; Exec. Order 14148 (Jan. 20, 2025)