Lexington, KY Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Lexington faces flooding from Town Branch, Wolf Run, and other urban streams in the Bluegrass region. Flash flooding from intense rainfall is the primary flood hazard in this largely landlocked city.
Fayette County has recorded 457 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $5.3M 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
477
Fayette County
Avg. Premium
$1,100/yr
Fayette County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Fayette County
Properties in Fayette County have filed 457 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $5.3M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $12K.
Highest-Claim Years
1992
54 claims - $340K
1997
46 claims - $277K
2006
39 claims - $999K
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Fayette County
Only roughly 1 in 267 households in Fayette County carries NFIP flood insurance (0.4% of estimated households). With 62 recorded flood events and $2.3M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.4%
roughly 1 in 267 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
457 claims over 45+ years across 477 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$11,700
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Fayette County has averaged 1 claim 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 Lexington.
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: Fayette County
Fayette County has 49 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 6 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
49
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
6
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
2
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 44 of 49 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Fayette County
Fayette County has been included in 4 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
These declarations affected communities across Fayette County, including Lexington.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Fayette County
NOAA has recorded 62 flood events in Fayette County since 1996, causing $2.3M in damage and 2 deaths.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Fayette County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 82 properties in Fayette County, investing $13.2M 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.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Fayette 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: $52.7M
Hurricane Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $149K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Lexington
Lexington 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 Lexington are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $52.7M.
With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in Lexington 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 Lexington 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 Lexington address.
Lexington, KY Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Lexington, KY?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Lexington are 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 Lexington?
If your Lexington 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 Lexington?
Enter your Lexington 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.
What type of flooding affects Lexington?
Lexington is primarily affected by river overflow combined with urban drainage challenges. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Lexington address.
Has Lexington experienced major flooding events?
Fayette County, where Lexington is located, has been part of 4 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in 2021. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Lexington?
Fayette County has recorded 457 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $5.3M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1992, with 54 claims and $340K in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Lexington.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Lexington?
Fayette County had 477 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $1,100. The most policies are in Zone AE (273 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 Lexington properties have flooded repeatedly?
Fayette County has 49 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 6 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 Lexington 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 Lexington?
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 Lexington'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 Kentucky Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Lexington, KY Address
Enter a Lexington, KY 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.