Illinois Flood Zones
Illinois faces major riverine flooding from the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, and Wabash rivers, as well as urban flash flooding in the Chicago metropolitan area. The flat terrain and clay soils in much of the state contribute to poor drainage and widespread flood risk.
7 of 102 Illinois counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 58 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 40%.
FEMA Region
Region 5
Also covers Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, +2 more
NFIP Policies
60,000
Illinois Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 102 Illinois counties.
Inland Flood Risk
7 of 102 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
0 of 2 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
0 of 102 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Illinois has received 20 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
3
2010s
2
2000s
2
1990s
2
1980s
3
1970s
4
1960s
3
1950s
1
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 20 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Illinois properties have filed 52,610 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $576.9M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $11K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
1,540
2010s
12,328
2000s
10,413
1990s
10,769
1980s
13,207
1970s
4,353
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
19,970
Zone AE
14,029
Zone X
10,989
Zone AH
1,066
Zone AO
323
Zone V
14
Zone D
8
Zone AHB
5
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Illinois
58 Illinois communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Illinois range from 2 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 40%.
Class 2 - 40% discount
Champaign
Class 5 - 25% discount
Calumet City
Class 5 - 25% discount
Des Plaines
Class 5 - 25% discount
Lansing
Class 5 - 25% discount
Niles
Class 5 - 25% discount
South Holland
Class 5 - 25% discount
Addison
Class 5 - 25% discount
Downers Grove
Class 5 - 25% discount
Lisle
Class 5 - 25% discount
Wood Dale
Class 5 - 25% discount
Montgomery
Class 5 - 25% discount
+46 more Illinois communities participate in CRS.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any Illinois Address
Enter a IL address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupIllinois Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Illinois.
Illinois Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Illinois property is in a flood zone?
Enter your IL address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Illinois?
If your Illinois property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, 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 subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Illinois's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Illinois?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Illinois are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone AO, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Illinois property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Illinois property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. For properties in Illinois's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Illinois communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 58 Illinois communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 40% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Illinois.