Flood check
Is it in a flood zone?
Check any address on the official maps before you make an offer. Type the address into the search box on the map, then look at the shading over the building.
FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer. The official flood zones, the ones lenders and flood insurance go by. Click a spot on the map to see its zone.
Map not loading? Open the FEMA map in a new tab.
NYC Department of City Planning's Flood Hazard Mapper. Puts FEMA's current and preliminary maps side by side, and shows how coastal flood risk may grow with sea level rise.
Map not loading? Open the city's mapper in a new tab.
NYC Stormwater Flood Map (DEP). FEMA maps only cover flooding from the ocean and rivers. This map shows where intense rain can flood streets and basements, which is how many inland homes flooded during Hurricane Ida.
Map not loading? Open the stormwater map in a new tab.
Reading the result
| Zone | What it means | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| VE | High risk, with storm waves. Usually right on the waterfront. | Flood insurance is required with a federally backed or regulated mortgage. Expect high premiums and stricter building rules. |
| AE or AO | High risk. About a 1% chance of flooding in any year, which adds up to roughly 1 in 4 over a 30-year mortgage. | Lenders require flood insurance with most mortgages. In a co-op or condo the building's policy usually covers the structure, so ask what it costs the building. Get a quote before you sign a contract. |
| Shaded X | Moderate risk. About a 0.2% chance in any year. | Insurance isn't required, but it's usually affordable here and worth pricing. |
| Unshaded X | Minimal coastal flood risk. | Still check the heavy rain map. Basements and garden units can flood anywhere. |
Why New York has two FEMA maps
FEMA's 2007 maps are still the official basis for flood insurance in the city. FEMA released updated preliminary maps in 2015 that drew the high-risk zones wider. The city appealed them, FEMA agreed in 2016 to revise them, and new maps are expected in the coming years. A home outside the 2007 zone but inside the 2015 one could face higher insurance costs once new maps take effect, so look at both.
Before you sign
- Look up the address on FloodHelpNY. This free tool from the Center for NYC Neighborhoods gives the zone, an insurance estimate and ways to lower your risk.
- Houses: since March 20, 2024, New York sellers of one to four family homes must give buyers a property condition disclosure before contract, and it now asks about flood history and flood insurance. Read it closely.
- Co-ops and condos: that disclosure doesn't apply. Ask the managing agent about past flooding, and have your attorney check the board minutes and the building's insurance.
- Get a flood insurance quote before you sign, especially in an A or V zone. The premium changes your monthly cost.
- Walk the basement and the block. Water stains, sump pumps and sandbags tell you what the map can't.
A first check, not the final word. Maps are drawn at a large scale and can be wrong for an individual building. Your attorney, inspector and insurance agent should confirm the risk for the specific property.
