Sacramento, CA Flood Zone Lookup
Last updated: March 2026
Sacramento is one of the most flood-vulnerable cities in the United States, located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers. An extensive levee system protects the city, but failure could result in catastrophic flooding across wide areas.
Sacramento County has recorded 3,858 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $38.4M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 9
NFIP Policies
57,876
Sacramento County
Avg. Premium
$609/yr
Sacramento County
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Sacramento County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $215.7M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Sacramento County
Sacramento County has been included in 11 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 3 earlier declarations since 1964.
These declarations affected communities across Sacramento County, including Sacramento.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Sacramento County
Properties in Sacramento County have filed 3,858 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $38.4M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $10K.
Highest-Claim Years
1995
1,340 claims - $11.5M
1997
601 claims - $7.9M
1986
257 claims - $4.4M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced March 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Sacramento County
Only roughly 1 in 11 households in Sacramento County carries NFIP flood insurance (9% of estimated households). This county has elevated flood risk with below-average insurance coverage, meaning many flood losses may go uninsured.
Penetration Rate
9%
roughly 1 in 11 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 14
3,858 claims over 45+ years across 57,876 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$9,952
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Sacramento County has averaged 1 claim for every 14 active policies (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of March 2026, claims since 1978 (March 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Sacramento.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Sacramento
Sacramento faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Sacramento are Zone AE, Zone AH, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $215.7M.
Riverine flood risk in Sacramento is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Sacramento address.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Sacramento County
Sacramento County has 197 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 33 severe repetitive loss properties. 13 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced March 2026.
Multiple Loss
197
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
33
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
13
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 193 of 197 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced March 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Sacramento County
NOAA has recorded 147 flood events in Sacramento County since 1996, causing $277.0M in damage and 5 deaths.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Sacramento County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 153 properties in Sacramento County, investing $0 in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Sacramento
Sacramento participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 4
SFHA Premium Discount
30% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Sacramento's Class 4 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 30% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Sacramento, CA Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Sacramento, CA?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Sacramento are Zone AE, Zone AH, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Sacramento?
If your Sacramento property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since over 40% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Sacramento?
Enter your Sacramento address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Sacramento offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Sacramento participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 4 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 30% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Sacramento experienced major flooding events?
Sacramento County, where Sacramento is located, has been part of 11 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in 2023. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Sacramento?
Sacramento County has recorded 3,858 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $38.4M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1995, with 1,340 claims and $11.5M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Sacramento.
How many flood insurance policies are active in Sacramento?
Sacramento County currently has 57,876 active NFIP flood insurance policies with an average annual premium of $609. The most policies are in Zone A (35,127 policies). These figures cover all active NFIP policies in the county.
How many Sacramento properties have flooded repeatedly?
Sacramento County has 197 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 33 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Can my Sacramento property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Sacramento?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Sacramento's Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other California Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
Look Up Any Sacramento, CA Address
Enter a Sacramento, CA address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on March 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a certified flood zone determination. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.