Planning Department

The Cole County Planning Department's mission is to provide professional planning service to support the present and future citizens of Cole County.  Services are to be provided in a responsible, cooperative manner while working with others in achieving protection of our public, private, and natural resources.  The Planning Department is further responsible for regulating a variety of planning activities in unincorporated areas, the subdivision plat process, requests for variance from subdivision regulations, floodplain administration, and flood plain development permit and variance requests.

Download Subdivision Regulations (PDF) for more information.

Cole County Floodplain Management


Cole County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To stay compliant with the program, the County must have in place an ordinance that reflects the standards set up by the federal government to reduce flood losses.

Cole County Floodplain Management Ordinance

All projects within FEMA designated floodplain require a Floodplain Development Permit.  If a building site is located within the 100 Year Regulatory Floodplain or the Regulatory Floodway, an elevation certificate completed by a registered land surveyor or licensed engineer and/or a No-Rise Certificate completed by a licensed engineer may be required before a building permit may be issued. 

More information can be found at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) website or by calling our office.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)