Local guide
Roswell flood zones, stream buffers and who to call about drainage
Some water problems are yours to fix and some belong to the city. Some repairs need a permit because of where the lot sits. A few minutes with the city's own pages will tell you which applies before you spend anything.
Look up the flood zone first
The City of Roswell's floodplain management page links to a Georgia Department of Natural Resources map where you type in an address and see its flood risk and the current flood insurance rate map. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official federal source for the same maps.
If the result is unclear, the city directs questions about flood zone locations to its Community Development Department at (770) 641-3780.
Why bother? Because the city requires a local permit for all development in a floodplain, and it means more than buildings. Regrading, a new drain or an excavated trench can count. The city's advice is to check with the Engineering or Building Division before altering the property in any way.
Which office for which question
Numbers are as published by the City of Roswell.
| Your question | Office | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Is my lot in a flood zone? | Community Development | (770) 641-3780 |
| Do I need a permit to dig, regrade or build in a floodplain? | Engineering or Building Division | (770) 641-3780 |
| How wide is the stream buffer on my lot? | Engineering Division | (770) 641-3780 |
| Why is water from the street or a storm pipe ending up in my yard? | Drainage System Investigator, Stormwater Utility | (770) 594-6258 |
| A ditch or culvert is blocked, or someone is filling one in | Environmental/Public Works | (770) 641-3715 |
City pipe or private pipe?
Roswell maintains only the parts of the storm drainage network set out in a document it calls the Extent of Service. Pipes and ditches outside it are not the city's to repair. The city's stormwater page explains that a Drainage System Investigator answers questions from the public, works out the cause of a drainage problem and suggests a possible remedy.
The same page says the list of repair work orders is running about nine months behind. So report a public drain that sends water your way, and do not wait on the repair to protect the house. Extending downspouts and shaping the soil beside the wall are yours to do in the meantime.
Creeks, ditches and buffers
Streams that count as state waters carry protected buffers along their banks, set by the state, the city or both. The Engineering Division will tell you what applies to your lot. Ask before a French drain outlet, a sump discharge or any grading is planned near running water.
Nothing may be dumped into the city's waterways or drainage ditches, and that includes soil and yard waste. Filling or rerouting a ditch without approval is something the city asks neighbors to report. If a creek or ditch borders your land, keeping its banks clear of brush and debris is the owner's part.
Trees and buried lines
Roswell's Engineering Division requires a tree removal permit for trees over three inches in diameter. A trench for exterior waterproofing or a long drain line often meets a tree, so settle this before the start date.
Any digging also calls for a Georgia 811 ticket, filed at least three business days beforehand. Check that every utility has responded before the first shovel goes in.
Local questions
My house is outside the flood zone. Does that rule out water problems?
No. Flood maps deal with rivers and creeks leaving their banks. A damp crawl space usually comes from rain falling on your own lot and from humid air.
Who repairs a storm drain in the street?
If it is part of the public system, the city. Start with the Drainage System Investigator, whose job is to look into the cause.
Does standard home insurance cover flooding?
The city's floodplain page states that a homeowner's policy will not cover losses due to flooding, and that flood insurance is bought separately. Your agent can explain the terms.