The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced today the extension of a temporary waiver for new construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas as part of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard requirements issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The waiver — which was initially set to expire Feb. 21, 2026 — will continue to exempt new single-family construction from the elevation standard requiring that the lowest floor of new construction be at least two feet above the base flood elevation. This waiver applies to FHA-insured mortgages on new single-family construction.

In making its announcement, FHA said: “FHA is extending this waiver to continue assisting in ensuring the availability of FHA new construction financing options to expand the housing supply and deliver emergency housing price relief.”

The partial waiver will be in effect until Feb. 19, 2027.