Friday, October 2, 2026 / Lane County and the McKenzie River corridor
Lane County pulls back a floodplain waiver after FEMA warning
Commissioners kept conditional approval for an upriver non-farm dwelling but restored the floodplain rule that protects insurance and disaster-aid eligibility.
Lane County commissioners changed a July land-use decision this week after staff said waiving part of the county's floodplain code could put Lane County out of compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program. The board kept conditional approval for a non-farm dwelling on a McKenzie River property, but removed the waiver of Lane Code 16.244.
County staff told commissioners that FEMA had warned the earlier waiver could lead to a one-year probation. If the problem remained unresolved, residents could lose access to federally subsidized flood insurance and the county could lose eligibility for federal disaster relief. The revised order passed 3-2. It does not reverse the project's approval; it requires the proposal to proceed without waiving the floodplain rule.
Field notes
What changed: The board replaced its July decision with an order that conditionally approves the property proposal without waiving Lane County's floodplain code.
Why it matters: Countywide participation in the federal flood-insurance program affects insurance costs and eligibility for FEMA disaster assistance, not just one property.
Who may be affected: Lane County property owners in flood-risk areas, McKenzie River residents and anyone depending on federal disaster aid after a flood.