The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) uses Flood Zone A to designate inland areas with a 1% annual risk of flooding. If your home is in Flood Zone A, you are located in a high-risk area for flooding and rates for flood insurance and home insurance are likely to be more expensive.
What is the meaning of Flood Zone A?
Flood Zone A refers to a collection of high-risk inland flood zones in low-lying areas near lakes, ponds, or other bodies of water. Zone A contains several sub-zones, including Zone AH and Zone AO.
FEMA defines flood zones based on annual risk of flooding using the concept of a “100-year flood” — that is, a flood that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. Flood Zone A has a 1% annual flood risk, making it a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
While a 1% annual risk may sound comfortably low, it translates to a 26% chance of a flood over the course of a standard 30-year mortgage.
What is Flood Zone A’s base flood elevation?
For some flood zones, FEMA defines a base flood elevation (BFE) — a value that represents how high waters are expected to rise in a 100-year flood event. Higher BFEs indicate a higher risk of severe damage from flooding, while lower BFEs could predict lower risk.
Zone A as a whole has no BFE because FEMA hasn’t completed the detailed hydraulic analyses needed to define this value. However, some of Zone A’s sub-zones do have a BFE. If you live in Zone A, you may be able to use FEMA’s Estimated Base Flood Elevation viewer to see BFEs in your area.
How do I know if I’m in Flood Zone A?
To determine whether your home is located in Flood Zone A, head to FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center and enter your address in the search bar at the top of the page. You can then:
- Download a map image: You’ll receive a ZIP file containing a TIFF image of your area’s floodplains, which can help you understand your own flood risk, as well as risks in nearby areas.
- Generate a dynamic map: Your FIRMette map will open in a new tab, showing flood risk in your immediate area.
Flood Zone A insurance requirements
If you live in Flood Zone A and have a federally backed mortgage — like an FHA, VA, or USDA loan — you must purchase flood insurance. It can be added on as an endorsement (where available) to your home insurance policy or purchased separately as a standalone policy. Flood insurance is offered by some private insurers, as well as the FEMA-backed National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
If you don’t have a mortgage, living in Flood Zone A doesn’t automatically come with any additional legal or contractual requirements. However, it’s important to remember that flooding is not a covered peril for home insurance. In the event of a major flood, your home could sustain extensive damage that would only be covered if you have an active flood insurance policy.
How much does flood insurance cost in zone A?
In past decades, FEMA calculated insurance premiums for NFIP policies based on the flood zone in which a property was located.
In 2023, FEMA adopted Risk Rating 2.0, a new approach to flood insurance pricing which incorporates highly individualized data to assign rates to specific properties. Instead of just looking at the flood zone your home is located, Risk Rating 2.0 considers factors such as:
- Your home’s distance from potential flood sources
- Historical frequency of flooding at your address
- The elevation of your first floor
- The cost to rebuild your home
Because Zone A lacks a BFE, an elevation certificate (EC) could help you prove that your home is less of a risk than typical homes in your flood zone. You can ask the sellers for an EC when purchasing a home or contact your local floodplain manager to request one.
Tips for homeowners in Flood Zone A
Living in Flood Zone A doesn’t guarantee a flood, but it’s smart to take steps to fortify your home’s physical structure against possible flooding. It’s also important to prepare financially for the fallout of a major flooding event.
Physical mitigation measures might include:
- Elevating utilities such as HVAC or water heaters above the expected flood level
- Using flood-resistant materials to build or upgrade your home
- Installing flood vents to prevent foundation damage
- Landscaping your property so that the ground slopes away from your house
Financial preparation may include:
- Getting flood insurance quotes from both the NFIP and private insurers
- Making sure you have sufficient emergency savings or prioritizing saving more
- Understanding your home insurance policy’s coverage details and exclusions
Frequently asked questions
Is Zone A the worst flood zone?
Zones A and V carry the highest risk of all FEMA flood zones. Zone A refers to high-risk inland areas while Zone V designates coastal areas that face high risk of flooding. Zone A may experience lower flood risk than some high-risk areas in Zone V, but homeowners in Zone A still face steep flood insurance premiums.
Can you build on Flood Zone A?
It’s possible to build a new home in Flood Zone A. However, you’ll want to research local building codes and FEMA standards to understand all the regulations you may need to follow, such as ensuring significant elevation or using specific flood-resistant construction methods.
What’s the difference between Flood Zone A vs. Flood Zone AE?
Like Flood Zone A, Flood Zone AE faces a 1% annual chance of flooding, but Zone AE has established BFEs and more detailed mapping. The availability of this more detailed data for Zone AE may lead to more accurate insurance pricing from the NFIP and private insurers.
| Flood zone |
Risk level |
BFE data available? |
Mandatory insurance? |
Common locations |
| Zone A |
High (1% annual chance of flooding)
|
No |
Yes (federally-backed mortgages only) |
Inland areas near lakes, ponds, and rivers |
| Zone AE |
High (1% annual chance of flooding)
|
Yes |
Yes (federally-backed mortgages only) |
Areas inland from coastal floodplains |
What is the difference between Flood Zone A and Flood Zone V?
Flood Zone V designates coastal areas with an annual flood risk of 1% or more, with additional risks from storm waves. Zone A, by contrast, designates inland areas with a high risk of flooding.
| Flood zone |
Risk level |
BFE data available? |
Mandatory insurance? |
Common locations |
| Zone A |
High (1% annual chance of flooding)
|
No |
Yes (federally-backed mortgages only) |
Inland areas near lakes, ponds, and rivers |
| Zone V |
High (1% or greater annual chance of flooding)
|
No |
Yes (federally-backed mortgages only) |
Coastal areas subject to storm waves |
Learn more about flood zones
