Standards for Development in the Flood Storage Overlay Zone (FSD).
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 295-1125
in effect295-1125. Standards for Development in the Flood Storage Overlay Zone (FSD).
1. DESCRIPTION. The flood storage overlay zone delineates that portion of the floodplain where storage of floodwaters has been taken into account and is relied upon to reduce the regional flood discharge. The overlay zone protects the flood storage areas and assures that any development in the storage areas will not decrease the effective flood storage capacity which would cause higher flood elevations.
2. APPLICABILITY. The provisions of this subsection apply to all areas within the flood storage overlay zone, as shown on the official zoning map.
3. PERMITTED USES. Any use or development which occurs in a flood storage overlay zone shall meet the applicable requirements of s. 295-1123.
4. STANDARDS. a. Development in a flood storage overlay zone shall not cause an increase equal of greater than 0.00 of a foot in the height of the regional flood.
b. No development shall be allowed which removes flood storage volume unless an equal volume of storage as defined by the pre-development ground surface and the regional flood elevation will be provided in the immediate area of the proposed development to compensate for the volume of storage which is lost. Excavation below the groundwater table is not considered to provide an equal volume of storage. If compensatory storage cannot be provided, the area may not be developed unless the entire area zoned as flood storage overlay zone on this waterway is rezoned to the flood fringe overlay zone. This shall include a revision to the floodplain study and map done for the waterway to revert to the higher regional flood discharge calculated without floodplain storage, in accordance with the provisions of s. 295-1143.
5. REMOVAL FROM OVERLAY ZONE. No area may be removed from the flood storage overlay zone unless it can be shown that the area has been filled to the flood protection elevation and is contiguous to other lands lying outside of the floodplain.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-2/CH295-SUB11.pdf#page=15Fetched: 10/26/2026