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Cedar Key, FL Flood Zone Map

Last updated: August 2026

Cedar Key is a small Gulf Coast fishing village with near-total SFHA coverage. Hurricane Idalia in 2023 caused historic storm surge that inundated nearly every structure in this low-lying island community.

Levy County has recorded 1,315 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $55.0M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.

FEMA Region

Region 4

NFIP Policies

1,093

Levy County

Avg. Premium

$1,847/yr

Levy County

Active NFIP Policies: Levy County

Levy County had 1,093 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $1,847, totaling $2.0M in annual premiums. Because a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice, this runs above the number in force at any one moment.

Average Annual Premium

Levy County$1,847
National Average$915

Policies by Flood Zone

Zone AE
587(avg. $2,091/yr)
Zone VE
249(avg. $2,266/yr)
Zone A
157(avg. $989/yr)
Zone X
98(avg. $705/yr)
Zone AO
2(avg. $1,648/yr)

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Policies API. Reflects policies with an effective date in the trailing 13 months (July 1, 2025 through August 16, 2026) - a 12-month policy term plus a 1-month buffer for OpenFEMA's own reporting lag - as an approximation of currently active policies, not a certified point-in-time count. Policies renewed early in this window may be counted twice, so actual totals may be somewhat lower than shown. See national policies data.

See the full flood insurance cost guide for how premiums vary by zone and risk factor.

NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Levy County

Properties in Levy County have filed 1,315 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $55.0M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $42K.

Highest-Claim Years

2024

312 claims - $26.5M

1996

200 claims - $2.6M

1993

190 claims - $3.2M

Claims by Flood Zone

Zone AE
472(avg. $52K)
Zone VE
383(avg. $60K)
Zone A
215(avg. $22K)
Zone V
206(avg. $12K)
Zone X
21(avg. $15K)

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.

Flood Insurance Coverage: Levy County

Only roughly 1 in 15 households in Levy County carries NFIP flood insurance (6% of estimated households). This county has elevated flood risk with below-average insurance coverage, meaning many flood losses may go uninsured.

Penetration Rate

6%

roughly 1 in 15 households

Historical Claims Ratio

1 in 1

1,315 claims over 45+ years across 1,093 current policies

Avg. Claim Payout

$41,862

Per claim, county-wide since 1978

Historically, Levy County has averaged 1.2 claims for every active policy (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 Cedar Key.

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: Levy County

Levy County has 196 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 64 severe repetitive loss properties. 2 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.

Multiple Loss

196

2+ claims within 10 years

Severe Repetitive Loss

64

4+ claims or 2 exceeding value

Mitigated

2

Received FEMA mitigation

By Flood Zone

Zone AE
91
Zone VE
70
Zone A
23
Zone V
10
Zone X
2

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.

Flood Insurance Discount: Cedar Key

Cedar Key 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 9

SFHA Premium Discount

5% off

CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Cedar Key's Class 9 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 5% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.

Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.

Federal Flood Disaster History: Levy County

Levy County has been included in 23 federal flood-related disaster declarations.

2024Hurricane MiltonHurricane
2024Hurricane HeleneHurricane
2023Hurricane IdaliaHurricane
2022Hurricane NicoleHurricane
2022Hurricane IanHurricane
2022Tropical Storm IanHurricane
2021Tropical Storm FredHurricane
2020Hurricane EtaHurricane

...and 15 earlier declarations since 2004.

These declarations affected communities across Levy County, including Cedar Key.

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.

Recorded Flood Events: Levy County

NOAA has recorded 8 flood events in Levy County since 1996, causing $471K in damage.

Costliest Events

June 20, 2003Flash Flood$337K
August 3, 2015Flood$100K
April 20, 2009Flood$13K
February 22, 1998Flood$10K
June 20, 2023Flood$10K

Events by Type

Flood
7
Flash Flood
1

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.

Flood Mitigation: Levy County

FEMA has funded mitigation for 58 properties in Levy County, investing $2.3M 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

Other
48
Elevation
9
Retrofit
1

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.

FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Levy 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 Low

Est. annual loss: $4.1M

Coastal Flood Risk

Relatively Moderate

Est. annual loss: $792K

Hurricane Risk

Relatively Moderate

Est. annual loss: $6.2M

Social Vulnerability: Very High
Community Resilience: Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.

What Your Flood Zone Means in Cedar Key

Cedar Key is primarily at risk from coastal flooding, including hurricane storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action. Coastal storms can push seawater inland with little warning, and properties in VE (Velocity) zones face the most severe exposure to breaking waves. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Cedar Key are Zone VE, Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $4.1M. Properties in Cedar Key's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.

Coastal flood insurance premiums in Cedar Key are typically higher than inland areas due to the destructive force of storm surge and wave action. Properties in VE zones face the highest premiums because wave damage compounds the risk beyond still-water flooding. 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.

Coastal flood maps are among the most frequently updated in the FEMA system, as shoreline erosion and new storm surge modeling refine the boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) may shift VE and AE zone boundaries after major storms or updated coastal studies. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Cedar Key address.

Cedar Key, FL Flood Zone FAQ

What flood zones are in Cedar Key, FL?

The most common FEMA flood zones in Cedar Key are Zone VE, Zone AE, 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 Cedar Key?

If your Cedar Key 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 Cedar Key?

Enter your Cedar Key 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 Cedar Key offer flood insurance discounts?

Yes. Cedar Key participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 9 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 5% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.

Has Cedar Key experienced major flooding events?

Levy County, where Cedar Key is located, has been part of 23 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Milton in 2024. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.

How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Cedar Key?

Levy County has recorded 1,315 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $55.0M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2024, with 312 claims and $26.5M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Cedar Key.

How many flood insurance policies are there in Cedar Key?

Levy County had 1,093 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $1,847. The most policies are in Zone AE (587 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 Cedar Key properties have flooded repeatedly?

Levy County has 196 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 64 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 Cedar Key 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 Cedar Key?

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 Cedar Key's Zone VE and 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.

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See the Flood Map for Any Cedar Key, FL Address

Enter a Cedar Key, FL 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.