A community's agreement to adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances, particularly with respect to new construction, is an important element in making flood insurance available to home and business owners. Lafayette Consolidated Government uses several approaches to protect its natural floodplain areas in order to prevent alteration of the natural functions of floodplains and to diminish the damaging effects of flood waters.

To encourage communities to establish sound floodplain management programs that recognize and encourage community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements, the Community Rating System (CRS) was created. This program provides communities with discounts to flood insurance rates as rewards for successfully complying with CRS criteria.