Land near Smithville.

Smithville-area floodplain and Colorado River corridor checks

For land near Smithville, first determine whether the parcel is inside city limits, in Smithville’s ETJ or in unincorporated Bastrop County. The City publishes maps for its limits, ETJ and FEMA flood zones, but warns its online maps are approximate and are not a land survey. A map note for one subdivision should not be carried over to a nearby tract.

Bastrop County requires a development permit before development in unincorporated areas, including placing manufactured homes, RVs and tiny homes. Its floodplain page distinguishes Class A, Conditional Class A and Class B cases. The County also uses FEMA FIRMs, Base Level Engineering, community flood studies, map changes and repetitive-loss information when identifying flood-prone areas. A FEMA panel alone may not show every source considered by the County.

For a parcel-specific County request, provide the Bastrop CAD property ID, physical address and legal description. The County’s 2025 Flood Damage Prevention Order names the Colorado River Corridor in provisions that apply to some agricultural work and development activities. Whether those provisions affect a proposed project depends on the parcel, location and work. Ask the City and County which office handles the property and request the relevant survey, elevations and permit review before relying on a listing description.

Facts to help plan the next check

• Bastrop County identifies flood-prone areas using FIRMs, Base Level Engineering, community flood studies, Letters of Map Change and repetitive-loss information; do not treat a single map layer as the full review
• For unincorporated Bastrop County, development permits are required before development, including placing manufactured homes, recreational vehicles and tiny homes; the County distinguishes Class A, Conditional Class A and Class B permit cases
• A County flood-status request should include the Bastrop CAD property ID, physical address and legal description
• Bastrop County’s Flood Damage Prevention Order names the Colorado River Corridor in provisions for agricultural development and describes conditions where land-use changes, structures or ground-disturbing work require review
• The City of Smithville publishes FEMA FIRM maps and city-limit/ETJ maps and cautions that online mapping is approximate and not a land survey

Parcel-specific next checks

1. Verify the parcel’s city-limit, ETJ or unincorporated status with the City and County; treat online boundary maps as a starting point rather than a survey
2. Ask Bastrop County Floodplain Management for a parcel determination using the CAD property ID, physical address and legal description
3. Review the current FEMA map together with County Base Level Engineering and any community flood-study or map-change information
4. Before placing a home, RV, tiny home, driveway, fill or other development, identify the County permit class and ask whether City review also applies
5. For land in or near the Colorado River Corridor, ask the County how the current Flood Damage Prevention Order applies to the exact activity and have a qualified surveyor or engineer review project elevations and drainage

Sources

• Bastrop County Floodplain Management ↗
• Bastrop County Flood Damage Prevention Order ↗
• City of Smithville Planning and Zoning ↗
• City of Smithville maps and FEMA layers ↗
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center ↗

Research checked 2026-11-06. Confirm current details for the exact parcel.

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