FLOOD ZONE CHECK
Is the house in a
flood zone?
Start with an address. See FEMA’s mapped flood zones around the property, explore the neighborhood, and read the available flood and insurance-claim records together.
Choose a suggestion to see the property on the map.
FEMA zone at the selected address point. Claims are from OpenFEMA by reported ZIP code and cannot establish this property’s flood history. Confirm effective maps and any amendments with FEMA, your town and lender.
Zone A, AE, AO, AH, VE · Special Flood Hazard Area: a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. Flood insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage. high risk
Shaded Zone X · the 0.2% annual-chance floodplain. A lender may still require insurance; ask for a property-specific quote. moderate
Zone X · outside the mapped high-risk area. Lower mapped risk does not mean no flood risk. minimal
Choose an address to explore the surrounding flood map.
What the zone changes
For buildings in a Special Flood Hazard Area, flood insurance is generally required with a federally backed mortgage. A lender may also require it outside that area. Ask your lender or insurer about this property, and review the seller’s flood-history disclosure. An inspection can assess visible moisture conditions, drainage and the sump system; it does not determine future flood risk.
Base flood elevation
Where FEMA publishes it, base flood elevation describes the expected water-surface elevation during a 1%-annual-chance flood, relative to a stated vertical datum. It is not a water depth above your yard. Ask a qualified surveyor about an elevation certificate and your lender or insurer about how it applies to the building.