Floodplain Management

Notification letters were sent to property owners whose properties are affected by the updated flood maps provided by the Water Security Agency (WSA). Based on the updated mapping, some properties have been added to the floodplain, some remain within it and some are no longer included. Property owners who receive a letter should visit Regina.ca/FloodMap to check their property’s status.

This letter is part of the City’s public notification process. Through this process, the City is sharing information about the updated flood maps and proposed changes with property owners who may be affected.

No action is required at this time. Properties within the floodplain can continue to be used, enjoyed and maintained. Properties that are no longer included within the updated floodplain boundaries will no longer be affected by floodplain restrictions.

The City recognizes that flooding concerns can be stressful for residents and property owners and is committed to protecting property in the event of a flood through temporary measures, such as temporary sandbagging dikes.

Regardless of the measures that municipalities may take, they may not fully prevent flooding during extreme flood events.

The City is currently sharing public information to help residents and property owners understand the updated flood maps and proposed changes. Following this public information process, proposed amendments to the Official Community Plan, Zoning Bylaw and Building Bylaw are tentatively scheduled to go to Executive Committee and City Council meetings in fall 2026. The amendments would then proceed to the Ministry of Government Relations, along with the Official Community Plan amendments, which may take several months. The proposed floodplain regulation changes will not come into effect until the required approvals are received.  

Natural flooding occurs when water covers land that is normally dry and can affect communities, infrastructure and properties. Flooding occurs in many areas of Saskatchewan and is one of the natural hazards considered in community planning and emergency management. Natural flooding does not include sewer backups and basement leaks.

From 2011 to 2022, the Province of Saskatchewan spent more than $200 million through the Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program and the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program to support flood response and recovery efforts across the province.

To help communities better understand flood risks and support future planning and emergency management, the Water Security Agency (WSA), in partnership with Natural Resources Canada, completed flood mapping studies over the last few years under the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program.

Flood mapping studies identify areas within communities that may be at risk of flooding and provide a visual representation of flood risks associated with rising water levels in rivers and lakes. Updated flood maps help support land use planning, emergency management and flood mitigation planning.

The previous flood maps for Regina were adopted in 1983. WSA recently updated the flood maps using improved data, modern modelling and updated flood risk assessments to provide a more accurate picture of potential flooding.

To be in alignment with new provincial legislation, the updated maps are now based on a 1:200-year flood scenario, replacing the previous 1:500-year flood model.

The updated flood maps are based on a 1:200-year flood scenario, which means there is a 0.5 per cent chance of this type of flood occurring in any given year. This does not mean flooding happens once every 200 years. It means there is a low probability of this type of flood occurring in any single year.

The updated flood maps are now based on a 1:200-year flood scenario, replacing the previous 1:500-year flood model, which had a 0.2 per cent chance of occurring in any given year.

WSA is responsible for identifying and mapping floodplain areas in Saskatchewan. The City has received updated flood maps from WSA that identify areas of Regina located within the floodplain, including the floodway and flood fringe. As a result of the updated mapping, floodplain boundaries within Regina have changed.

The City is responsible for regulating development within the floodplain through the Official Community Plan, Zoning Bylaw and Building Bylaw. The Statements of Provincial Interest (SPIs), which all municipalities are required to follow, were recently updated. As a result, the City is required to update its policies and bylaws to align with provincial regulations and the updated flood maps.

As a result of the updated mapping, some properties have been added to the floodplain, some remain in the floodplain, and some properties are no longer included within the updated floodplain boundaries. 

Development requirements within the floodplain will only impact properties if you plan to make changes to your property, such as building a secondary suite, new infill development, or additions. New buildings will need to meet flood-proofing requirements.

The updated flood maps can be viewed using the online flood mapping platform at Regina.ca/FloodMap

To search for a property, enter the property address in the search bar or use the map tools to find the parcel. Once a parcel is selected, the platform will display whether the property is located within the floodplain or not.

You can also watch a demo video to learn how to use the flood mapping platform and understand the information displayed for a selected property here.

If you have additional questions about the platform or information shown on the platform that are not covered in these FAQs, please contact the Floodplain Mapping team at FloodPlainMapping@regina.ca.

The flood map may show different elevation numbers for a property. These numbers help compare the height of the ground, the expected flood water level and the height that may be needed for future building.

Ground elevation means the height of the ground at the address point shown on the map.

Floodplain Elevation means the highest water level expected during the 1:200-year flood scenario used for the updated flood maps. This number helps show which areas are in the floodway or flood fringe.

Safe Building Elevation (SBE) means the minimum height that new buildings or additions may need to meet. It is set 0.5 metres above the Estimated Peak Water Level to help reduce flood risk.

These numbers help show how floodplain rules and flood-proofing requirements may apply to future development, rebuilding or major renovations on a property. Property owners must continue to follow the current Zoning Bylaw, Building Bylaw and other applicable regulations when applying for development or building permits.

Some properties may be only partially located within the floodplain. If any part of a parcel is located within the floodway or flood fringe, the parcel is considered to be within the floodplain. However, the proposed regulations allow for a property survey to confirm if a proposed building is subject to further requirements.

The Official Community Plan (OCP) is the City’s long-term planning document that guides how Regina grows and develops. It includes policies related to land use, infrastructure, transportation, environmental planning and public safety.

The Zoning Bylaw is a set of regulations that controls how land and buildings can be used and developed within the city. It includes rules related to building locations, property use, development standards and floodplain regulations.

The Building Bylaw establishes construction and safety requirements for buildings and includes standards related to building permits, inspections and flood-proofing requirements.

In 2025, the provincial government updated the Statements of Provincial Interest (SPIs) related to floodplains. 

The updated regulations now allow municipalities to permit some development within the 1:200-year floodway and provide more flexibility to rebuild on existing properties, subject to flood-proofing requirements. Before these changes, municipalities could not allow development or redevelopment within the 1:500-year floodway. 

More information about the Statements of Provincial Interest can be found on the Government of Saskatchewan website: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/municipal-administration/community-planning-land-use-and-development/developing-communities-for-provincial-interest

After approval of the amended floodplain requirements, new development on properties will need to follow the new rules to ensure buildings meet flood-proofing requirements. Proposed changes include:

• New procedures for confirming how high the first floor can be above the ground level.
• Restrictions on building a residential unit in a basement.
• Restrictions and requirements for mechanical areas, such as furnace and water heaters to be on the main floor, above the safe building elevation.
• Requirements for an engineer to approve new residential buildings.
• Allowing for non-residential buildings, such as garages to be built on impacted properties within the floodway.

Detailed proposed changes can be found here

Property owners must continue to follow the current Zoning Bylaw, Building Bylaw and applicable regulations when applying for development or building permits.

For existing properties the proposed floodplain regulations are the same for properties within the floodway or flood fringe. This is consistent with new provincial legislation. New neighbourhoods are not allowed to subdivide land for development within the floodway.

The most significant proposed change is for existing properties in the floodway. Under the current regulations, rebuilding a home or adding accessory structures in the floodway is not allowed. Under the proposed regulation changes, existing properties in the floodway would have more flexibility for future development, redevelopment or rebuilding, as long as flood-proofing requirements are met.

For an existing property the proposed regulations provide options to allow for basement development. For new buildings, unless confirmed by an engineer that the basement is built to be water-tight and withstand floodwaters in the event of a 1:200-year flood, no basement suites will be allowed within a basement and mechanical equipment (such as furnace and water heaters) will need to be on the main level, above the safe building elevation.

For existing buildings not designed for a 1:200-year flood, it would not be possible to develop a contained basement suite, but other basement development, such as living space would be allowed.

Yes. There are no restrictions for buildings that are not primarily intended as habitable spaces, such as garages or sheds.

Insurance coverage and eligibility decisions are determined by individual insurance providers, using their own assessment data and methods. The City cannot provide direct advice about insurance coverage or eligibility, as each insurance provider conducts its own risk assessment for properties.

Property owners are encouraged to contact their insurance provider to learn about available coverage options and eligibility requirements. Some insurers may offer optional coverage related to sewer backup, overland flooding or groundwater flooding.

No, your assessment will not change as a direct result of the changes. However, property valuation occurs every four years in accordance with provincial legislation. The next assessment cycle will be from 2029 to 2033. At that time, the same factors will be considered for all properties to determine if changes need to be made. 

Property owners with questions can contact the City at FloodPlainMapping@regina.ca. Updates or new information will be available at Regina.ca/FloodPlain. A public information session will also be held on July 8 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at City Hall in the Darlene Hincks Committee Room to share more information about the updated flood maps and proposed change.