Property Floodplains

Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) issued updated floodplain maps for several counties in Southwest Montana.

The update floodplain maps redefined the 500 year and 100 year floodplains for many rural properties in Montana.

The maps, which are digitized, replaced the old hard copies drawn in the 1980’s with newer, more accurate information.

Gallatin County has its own floodplain maps that it uses when reviewing development or building requests, but FEMA’s maps are used as a guide.

Federal lenders use the maps to set insurance rates, and if a property backed by a federal mortgage is now included in the floodplain, the homeowners will be required to buy flood insurance.

The most significant changes to the floodplain maps include Big Sky, the East Gallatin River, the West Gallatin River downstream of Interstate 90 and areas of the Jefferson and Madison rivers near Three Forks.

This would subject property in these areas to heightened insurance requirements and restrictions on development.

Before purchasing rural property in Montana contact our Real Estate Agents to determine if the property is in a designated floodplain.

Gallatin County Floodplain Map