Littleton, CO Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Littleton faces flood risk from the South Platte River, Plum Creek, and Lee Gulch, which converge in the southern Denver metro area. The devastating 1965 South Platte flood reshaped flood management across the region and highlighted the risk of rapid-onset flooding along these corridors.
Arapahoe County has recorded 205 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $1.0M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 8
NFIP Policies
924
Arapahoe County
Avg. Premium
$506/yr
Arapahoe County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Arapahoe County
Properties in Arapahoe County have filed 205 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.0M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $5K.
Highest-Claim Years
2013
36 claims - $258K
2023
31 claims - $143K
2015
26 claims - $412K
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Arapahoe County
Only roughly 1 in 280 households in Arapahoe County carries NFIP flood insurance (0.4% of estimated households). With 44 recorded flood events and $4.3M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.4%
roughly 1 in 280 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 5
205 claims over 45+ years across 924 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$5,059
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Arapahoe County has averaged 1 claim for every 5 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 August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Littleton.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Arapahoe County
Arapahoe County has 6 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 0 severe repetitive loss properties. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
6
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
0
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
0
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Littleton
Littleton 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 5
SFHA Premium Discount
25% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Littleton's Class 5 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 25% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Arapahoe County
Arapahoe County has been included in 6 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 1 earlier declaration since 1969.
These declarations affected communities across Arapahoe County, including Littleton.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Arapahoe County
NOAA has recorded 44 flood events in Arapahoe County since 1996, causing $4.3M in damage and 2 deaths.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Arapahoe County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 4 properties in Arapahoe 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 August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
Levee Protection: Littleton
The USACE National Levee Database lists 1 levee system protecting parts of Littleton. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped: accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited systems generally leave their protected area in the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until certification is complete.
Chatfield Downstream RB
Non-AccreditedProtects against: South Platte River - Sponsor: CDNR - Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) - 0.03 sq mi protected
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Arapahoe 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 ModerateEst. annual loss: $62.0M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Littleton
Littleton faces multiple inland flood threats, including riverine flooding from nearby waterways and flash flooding from intense rainfall overwhelming urban drainage systems. Properties near river corridors face the highest risk, but stormwater backup can affect neighborhoods well outside the mapped floodplain. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Littleton are Zone AE, Zone AO, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $62.0M. Littleton has Zone AO areas subject to sheet-flow flooding, where shallow water spreads across broad, flat terrain rather than channeling through waterways.
With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in Littleton depend heavily on a property's elevation relative to nearby waterways and the local drainage infrastructure. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 prices in multiple inland flood sources rather than relying on the flood zone line alone. 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.
Flood zone boundaries in Littleton can shift when FEMA updates its Flood Insurance Studies or when upstream development changes how water moves through the watershed. New stormwater infrastructure or dam modifications can also trigger map revisions. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Littleton address.
Littleton, CO Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Littleton, CO?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Littleton are Zone AE, Zone AO, 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 Littleton?
If your Littleton 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 about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Littleton?
Enter your Littleton 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 Littleton offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Littleton participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 5 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 25% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Littleton experienced major flooding events?
Arapahoe County, where Littleton is located, has been part of 6 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes 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 Littleton?
Arapahoe County has recorded 205 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.0M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2013, with 36 claims and $258K in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Littleton.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Littleton?
Arapahoe County had 924 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $506. The most policies are in Zone X (633 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Littleton properties have flooded repeatedly?
Arapahoe County has 6 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 0 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.
Is Littleton protected by a levee?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 1 levee system protecting parts of Littleton (Chatfield Downstream RB). None currently carry full FEMA accreditation, which typically keeps the protected area within the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until the levee is certified. Levee protection is system-specific, not city-wide - check the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Can my Littleton 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 Littleton?
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 Littleton'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 Colorado Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Littleton, CO Address
Enter a Littleton, CO address to view its FEMA flood map, 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 August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.