Acreus
Loading
Loading
Look up the FEMA flood zone for any US property address instantly. Get the flood zone designation, risk level, insurance requirements, base flood elevation data, and development impact assessment — completely free, no account required.
Zone A and AE are high-risk areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding. Zone V and VE are coastal high-hazard areas with wave action. Zone X is minimal to moderate risk. Zone D is undetermined — no study has been conducted.
Enter any US address into the lookup tool above for instant FEMA flood zone results.
An SFHA is any area with at least a 1% annual chance of flooding, including Zones A, AE, AH, AO, AR, A99, V, and VE.
No. Approximately 25-30% of all NFIP flood claims come from outside the SFHA, including Zone X areas.
This tool queries FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), the authoritative source.
Check flood zone designation, insurance requirements, and development impact for any US property address. Powered by FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer data.
The data that should make you check every property before you make an offer.
0+
Properties at risk
First Street Foundation estimate
25–30%
Claims from Zone X
"Low risk" is not no risk
$0.5B
NFIP debt to Treasury
After $16B forgiven in 2017
~0%
SFHA properties uninsured
The national insurance gap
Zones starting with A or V are Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) — what most people call the "100-year floodplain." That name is misleading. A 1% annual chance means there's a 26% probability of flooding over a 30-year mortgage.
High Risk — Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)
Moderate to Low Risk
Undetermined
Common mistakes
"Zone X means I'm safe."
25-30% of all NFIP claims come from outside the SFHA. After Hurricane Harvey, some of the worst-hit areas were Zone X. Pluvial flooding doesn't care about FEMA lines on a map.
"The NFIP covers my building."
NFIP caps at $500K building + $500K contents. Your $3M multifamily is massively underinsured. And business interruption? Not covered at all. That's the loss that actually kills deals.
"This property has always been in the flood zone."
35-40% of SFHA properties sit above BFE. Many were mapped using 1980s-era studies. A $500-$2,500 Elevation Certificate could save you $5K-$25K/year in premiums — and a LOMA is free to file.
Your premium, your construction requirements, and your LOMA eligibility all come down to one thing: where your building sits relative to the Base Flood Elevation.
Each foot above BFE
Reduces premiums 30-60%. Building 1 ft above BFE has a 5:1 benefit-cost ratio.
Below BFE = max premiums
Each foot below BFE increases premiums dramatically. Substantial improvements trigger compliance.
Freeboard (1-2 ft)
Most jurisdictions require 1-2 ft above BFE. Earns CRS credit and further reduces premiums.
Insurance, construction, property value, and financing — four ways flood designation hits your deal economics.
Under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, premiums are based on individual property risk — not just zone designation. Commercial properties are capped at $500K building + $500K contents through NFIP. Most commercial assets need private excess flood coverage on top.
| Zone | NFIP Premium | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VE | $5,000–$25,000+ | Mandatory | Highest premiums. CBRA properties may be ineligible. |
| AE | $2,000–$15,000+ | Mandatory | Varies heavily by elevation relative to BFE. |
| A | $3,000–$10,000+ | Mandatory | Often higher than AE — no BFE means worst-case assumed. |
| X (shaded) | $400–$800 | Recommended | 25-30% of all claims come from these "moderate risk" areas. |
| X (unshaded) | $400–$700 | Optional | Preferred rates. 20% of claims come from low-risk zones. |
Risk Rating 2.0 — What Changed
Launched in 2021, Risk Rating 2.0 replaced zone-based pricing with property-specific risk assessment. It factors in distance to water, flood frequency, building replacement cost, and first-floor height. Annual increases are capped at 18% (standard) / 25% (commercial) as premiums phase toward full actuarial rates. Large commercial buildings saw the biggest increases because premiums now scale with replacement cost.
35-40% of SFHA properties may actually sit above BFE — and FEMA approves 70-80% of LOMA applications with proper documentation. A successful LOMA removes mandatory insurance, can increase property value 5-15%, and the application is free.
Get an Elevation Certificate
$500–$2,500 from a licensed surveyor. Shows your property's elevation relative to BFE.
1–2 weeks
Submit FEMA MT-1 Form
Free application — no FEMA fee. Include the Elevation Certificate and property documentation.
1 day
FEMA Reviews
FEMA evaluates whether the property is at or above BFE. Target turnaround is 60 days.
45–90 days
LOMA Issued
If approved, mandatory insurance requirement is removed. You can request a premium refund for the remaining policy term.
Immediate effect
Acreus automatically checks flood zones, zoning, and market data for every property in your pipeline.
Create Free Account