Ordinance for Adoption of the Floodplain Management Regulations of the Village of Ridgewood - Ordinance No.3865
Ordinance No.3865 can be found here
AN ORDINANCE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD AMENDING THE VILLAGE CODE TO REPEAL CHAPTER 154 FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION IN ITS ENTIRETY; AND TO ADOPT A NEW CHAPTER 154 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS; TO ADOPT FLOOD HAZARD MAPS; TO DESIGNATE A FLOODPLAIN ADMNISTRATOR; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act - March 21, 2014
On Friday, March 21, 2014, President Obama signed into law H.R. 3370, The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. The legislation will:

• Reinstate the grandfathering of properties by repealing Section 207 of the Biggert-Waters Act. (This means that all post Flood Insurance Rate Map (post-FIRM) properties built to code at the time of construction will have protection from rate spikes due to new mapping. By reinstating the grandfathering of properties, there is no longer a need to delay the rate increases.) 
• Prevent FEMA from increasing premiums within a single property class beyond 15% per year. 
• Require a 5 percent minimum annual increase on pre-FIRM primary residence policies that are not at full risk. 
• Refund policyholders who purchased pre-FIRM homes after Biggert-Waters (7/6/12) and were subsequently charged higher rates.
• Remove the rate increase trigger for properties sold after 7/6/2012 and treats the new property owner as the same as the previous property owner.
• Apply an annual surcharge of $25 for primary residences and $250 for second homes and businesses to all policies. (All revenue from these assessments would be placed in the NFIP reserve fund, which was established to ensure funds are available for meeting the expected future obligations of the NFIP.)
• Fund the affordability study required by Biggert-Waters Act and mandates its completion in two years.
• Require FEMA to reimburse policy holders and communities for successful map appeals.

Importantly, for your constituents, the new law will require FEMA to designate a Flood Insurance Advocate to advocate for the fair treatment of policy holders under the National Flood Insurance Program and property owners in the mapping of flood hazards, the identification of risks from flood, and the implementation of measures to minimize the risk of flood.

Flood Plains In The Village Of Ridgewood
Village of Ridgewood Flood Event September 29, 2023
Village of Ridgewood Stormwater Management Plan - Revised 4/28/2021
The Village Of Ridgewood has a number of streams with a flood plain associated with it, Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, Saddle River, Goffle Brook, Diamond Brook, and Sprout Brook a nondelineated stream behind Gateway Road.

These streams are limited in capacity and tend to exceed there banks during heavy rain falls similiar to Tropical Storm Floyd on September 16, 1999 and Hurricane Irene on August 28, 2011 (both of which can be considered a 100 year flood event).  Additionally, the Nor'easter on April 15, 2007 can be considered a 20 year storm event.

As each storm event varies in duration and inches of rainfall, flow varies through each section of the stream dependant on flow restrictions ie, bridges, culverts, dams and weirs. Preventitive maintenance to keep these areas clear is the Village's primary goal in keeping flooding to the minimum.

Flood information for the Village is available in the Engineering Division Office. Flood maps from FEMA and the New Jersey Department Of Environmental Protection are available. Documentation from FEMA is available stating the property and/or structure is located in the floodplain.

Flood Insurance
The Village of Ridgewood participates in the Community Rating System (CRS) and has a rating of Class 6, which is administered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Because we participate in the CRS program, anyone in the Village of Ridgewood can purchase flood insurance. Please note that standard homeowner's insurance does not cover damage from floods. Most homeowner's who have paid off their homes do not continue the flood insurance as required by most mortgage companies. Here are some common Myths and Facts about the National Flood Insurance Program.

Flood Plain Resources
2019 FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer
USGS Saddle River Flood Gauge
USGS HoHoKus Brook Flood Gauge

Community Outreach Resources
Annual Letter to Residents in the Flood Plain 2022
Annual Letter to Realtors 2023
Repetitive Loss Outreach Letter 2023
Flood Plain Management Plan 2015 Annual Report
List of Homes with Elevation Certificates on File
Elevation Certificates for Homes in the Flood Fringe 
Open Space Lands within the Flood Plain

Hurricane Sandy Mitigation Assessment Team Report 
FEMA P-942, Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and New York
FEMA Building Science & Resources

Flood Plain Regulations
NJDEP - 2021 Flood Hazard Area Control Act Rules N.J.A.C.7:13
NJDEP - Division of Land Use Regulation
E-Code for Village of Ridgewood, NJ
International Residential Code 2018, New Jersey Edition - See section R322 on page 65

Links
FEMA
FEMA Fact Sheet - Cleaning Flooded Buildings
FEMA Map Service Center
Floodsmart.gov
National Weather Service
American Red Cross
Bergen County Office of Emergency Management
Ready.gov