--- title: "Davis Islands flood zones and seawalls: what city records say" description: "A June 2020 City of Tampa sea level rise report covers Davis Islands flood zones, base flood elevations and seawalls. Here is what it means for a new build." url: https://build813.multisites.ai/journal/davis-islands-flood-zone-and-seawalls publisher: Halo Homes phone: +1-813-956-1972 quote: https://build813.multisites.ai/contact --- ![Open kitchen and living area with a white island and black-framed glass walls](https://build813.multisites.ai/_astro/kitchen-living.iWvWiSSq_ZpVDoS.avif) # Davis Islands flood zones and seawalls: what city records say A June 2020 City of Tampa report puts the whole Davis Islands basin in the preliminary special flood hazard area. About 80 percent is zone AE, with a base flood elevation of 11 to 12 feet. The airport area is zone VE at 13 feet. Check current maps before you design. Published October 29, 20264 min read5 sources ## What do City records say about the Davis Islands flood zone? They say the whole island sits in a flood hazard area. A City of Tampa report from June 2020 studied sea level rise for six drainage basins. Davis Islands was Basin 1. The report says the entire basin is in the preliminary special flood hazard area. That is a 2020 planning study. It used preliminary FEMA data, and flood maps change. Treat the numbers below as a starting point, not as the rule for your lot. The [special flood hazard area](https://build813.multisites.ai/glossary/special-flood-hazard-area) is the part of the map where FEMA floodplain rules and flood insurance purchase rules apply. For a neighborhood overview, see the City page summary on our [Davis Islands page](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/davis-islands). For the island’s origin story, read [how Davis Islands was built from bay mud](https://build813.multisites.ai/journal/davis-islands-history-built-from-bay-mud). ## How is the island split between zone AE and zone VE? About 80 percent is zone AE, and the airport area is zone VE. The report lists these values for the basin. Area FEMA zone Base flood elevation Flood depth in the report Most of the island AE 11 ft about 1.5 to 7 ft across the AE area Along the shore AE 12 ft about 1.5 to 7 ft across the AE area Airport and seaplane basin park VE 13 ft 5.5 to 8.5 ft Source: City of Tampa sea level rise report, June 2020, preliminary FEMA data. Zone AE is a mapped flood area with a set base flood elevation. Zone VE adds wave action. The [base flood elevation](https://build813.multisites.ai/glossary/base-flood-elevation) is the height FEMA expects a 1 percent annual chance flood to reach. The report also marks a Limit of Moderate Wave Action line. It runs roughly 100 to 300 feet off the shoreline along the west side and crosses the southern part of the island. Areas between that line and the shore see wave action above 1.5 feet in the 1 percent coastal event. The report gives ground elevations from sea level to 10 feet NAVD88. It states that a significant number of roads and structures sit well below the base flood elevations. It is a City description of the basin, not a statement about any single lot. ## What does the report say about the one road on and off the island? It says Davis Boulevard is the only entrance or exit. The report adds that the road is not formally classified as an evacuation route. It connects through a bridge system to Bayshore Boulevard and the mainland. Why does a builder care? Access shapes the job. Concrete trucks, cranes and deliveries all use the same route. Plan deliveries with that in mind. Ask your builder how site access will work before you sign a schedule. ## What are repetitive loss areas on the island? The report maps six of them, and that is the highest count of the six basins it studied. They cover 81 parcels. All of those parcels are single family residential, according to the report. The report defines a repetitive loss property as an insurable building with two or more flood claims of more than $1,000 each, paid by the National Flood Insurance Program within any rolling ten-year period since 1978. Two of the six areas sit right at the shore. Four sit further inland, close to the major canal. This is a record of past claims on a map. It does not say what will happen to any one home. It does tell a builder where water has reached before, so ask your surveyor and your insurance agent about the lot you are studying. ## Who owns the seawalls? The report says most land on the island is privately owned. It describes the seawalls around the island as mostly private. It also says the City has no city-wide seawall inventory, so ownership, material, condition and elevation are not on record in one place. A [seawall](https://build813.multisites.ai/glossary/seawall) is a wall along the shore that holds back water and soil. If the wall on your lot is private, you own the upkeep. The report suggests the City consider a seawall ordinance. As one example, it names a minimum height of 4.5 feet NAVD88. That is a recommendation in a study. It is not a rule you must follow today. Ask these questions before you buy or design: - Who owns the seawall at this lot? - What is the wall made of, and what is its condition? - Is there a survey that shows its top elevation? - Does the plan add load near the wall? ## What does a flood zone mean for a new home? It sets the rules for how high and how strong the home must be. The City says that if you build in a FEMA special flood hazard area, you must provide an elevation certificate with your construction permit application. A Professional Engineer or Professional Land Surveyor must complete it. The City also says that in “A” and “V” zones, improvements or repairs above 50 percent of a home’s value mean the house must meet current code. That includes elevating above the base flood elevation. For the full picture, read our guide to [elevation certificates for new construction](https://build813.multisites.ai/guides/elevation-certificates-new-construction-tampa) and our flood zone building page. Freeboard also matters. It means extra height above the base flood elevation. ## How do I check one address? Call the City of Tampa Stormwater Department at (813) 274-3101 and give the street address. The City says there is no charge for this service. You can also check FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. Do this before you pay for design. A lot that looks the same as its neighbor can sit in a different zone. ## What is the next step? If you plan a new home near the water, start with the address check and a survey. Then talk with a builder about elevation, access and the seawall. Halo Homes offers [custom home construction](https://build813.multisites.ai/services/custom-home-construction) in Tampa Bay and the surrounding regions. Call (813) 956-1972 or send a note through the [contact page](https://build813.multisites.ai/contact). ## Frequently asked questions ### What flood zone is Davis Islands in? A June 2020 City of Tampa report says the entire Davis Islands basin is in the preliminary special flood hazard area. About 80 percent is zone AE. The airport and seaplane basin park area is zone VE. FEMA maps change, so confirm your lot with the City. ### Who owns the seawalls on Davis Islands? The City report says most land on the island is privately owned, and it describes the seawalls around the island as mostly private. It also says Tampa has no city-wide seawall inventory. Ask the seller for the survey and any seawall records. ### How do I find the flood zone for one address? Call the City of Tampa Stormwater Department at (813) 274-3101 with the street address. The City says the lookup is free. You can also use the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. A licensed surveyor can then prepare an elevation certificate. ## Terms on this page - [Special flood hazard area](https://build813.multisites.ai/glossary/special-flood-hazard-area) - [Elevation certificate](https://build813.multisites.ai/glossary/elevation-certificate) - [Base flood elevation](https://build813.multisites.ai/glossary/base-flood-elevation) - [Freeboard](https://build813.multisites.ai/glossary/freeboard) - [Seawall](https://build813.multisites.ai/glossary/seawall) ## Sources 1. [City of Tampa: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Analysis and Resiliency Strategy Report (June 2020)](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2024/final-vulnerability-analysis-report.pdf) 2. [City of Tampa: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Analysis and Resiliency Strategy Report (June 2020), flood zones](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2024/final-vulnerability-analysis-report.pdf) 3. [City of Tampa: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Analysis and Resiliency Strategy Report (June 2020), seawalls](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2024/final-vulnerability-analysis-report.pdf) 4. [City of Tampa: Flood Information](https://www.tampa.gov/tss-stormwater/info/flood) 5. [City of Tampa: Davis Islands](https://www.tampa.gov/neighborhoods/davis-islands) Written for Halo Homes and checked against the sources above on October 29, 2026. City, county and code rules change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [Elevation certificates for a new home in TampaAn elevation certificate is a FEMA form that records a building's elevations against the flood map. In Tampa, a permit application in a flood hazard area needs one, prepared by a Professional Engineer or Professional Land Surveyor. Hillsborough County asks for three, at drawings, foundation and finish.](https://build813.multisites.ai/guides/elevation-certificates-new-construction-tampa) - [Can you build a new home in a Tampa flood zone? What FEMA zones X, A, AE and VE meanYes. You can build a new home in most Tampa flood zones if the design meets the rules for that zone. In a FEMA special flood hazard area, the City needs an elevation certificate with the permit application. The lowest floor must sit at or above base flood elevation plus 1 foot, or the design flood elevation if higher.](https://build813.multisites.ai/build-in-a-flood-zone-tampa) - [How Davis Islands was built from bay mud in the 1920sDeveloper D.P. Davis created Davis Islands in the 1920s from two small natural islands, Little Grassy Key and Big Grassy Key. Dredges built up the land with material from the bottom of Tampa Bay. That origin explains the low ground, the canals and the flood zones builders deal with today.](https://build813.multisites.ai/journal/davis-islands-history-built-from-bay-mud) - [Base flood elevation and freeboard for a Tampa homeBase flood elevation (BFE) is the height that water reaches in a flood with a 1 percent chance of happening in any year. Freeboard is extra height added above it. Together they help set how high a new Tampa home's lowest floor sits. Confirm the current number with the City.](https://build813.multisites.ai/guides/base-flood-elevation-and-freeboard-tampa) - [Building a custom home in South Tampa: what the City's rules mean for your lotBuilding a custom home in South Tampa starts with the lot, not the plan. Five City checks shape what you can build: the zoning district, the FEMA flood zone, historic review, tree permits and the new construction permit. Rules attach to each parcel, so confirm them before you design.](https://build813.multisites.ai/custom-home-builder-south-tampa) - [What to Check Before You Buy a Lot to Build On in TampaBefore you buy a lot in Tampa, check five things: the FEMA flood zone and base flood elevation, the zoning district and its setbacks, whether a local historic district applies, protected trees on the site, and any existing structure. Official City pages and maps answer most of these for free.](https://build813.multisites.ai/guides/buying-a-lot-to-build-in-tampa) ![Pool and spa on a white stone deck by the water, with boat masts beyond](https://build813.multisites.ai/_astro/pool-waterfront.CLnYphmi_1cWGPd.avif) ## Start your home. Tell Halo about your lot, your plans and your timing. A call or a short note is enough to begin. [Start your home](https://build813.multisites.ai/contact) Or call [(813) 956-1972](tel:+1-813-956-1972)