Maine Flood Zones
Maine faces coastal flooding from Atlantic nor'easters and storm surge, riverine flooding from spring snowmelt, and flash flooding in mountain stream valleys. The state's long coastline and numerous river systems create diverse flood hazards.
15 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 15%.
FEMA Region
Region 1
Also covers Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, +2 more
NFIP Policies
8,500
Maine Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 16 Maine counties.
Inland Flood Risk
0 of 16 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
1 of 10 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
0 of 16 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Maine has received 25 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
5
2010s
2
2000s
3
1990s
7
1980s
2
1970s
5
1950s
1
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 25 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Maine properties have filed 5,671 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $86.7M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $15K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
1,118
2010s
475
2000s
992
1990s
1,278
1980s
1,107
1970s
701
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
1,510
Zone A
1,259
Zone AE
1,070
Zone AO
376
Zone VE
277
Zone V
101
Zone AOB
20
Zone AH
5
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Maine
15 Maine communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Maine range from 7 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 15%.
Old Orchard Beach
Class 7 - 15% discount
South Berwick
Class 7 - 15% discount
Arrowsic
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 8 - 10% discount
Class 8 - 10% discount
Farmington
Class 8 - 10% discount
Skowhegan
Class 8 - 10% discount
Saco
Class 8 - 10% discount
York
Class 8 - 10% discount
Ogunquit
Class 8 - 10% discount
Auburn
Class 9 - 5% discount
Fort Kent
Class 9 - 5% discount
+3 more Maine communities participate in CRS.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any Maine Address
Enter a ME address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupMaine Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Maine.
Maine Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Maine property is in a flood zone?
Enter your ME 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 Maine?
If your Maine 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 Maine's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Maine?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Maine are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone A, 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 Maine property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Maine 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. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. Note that for coastal properties in VE zones, LOMAs are less common because wave action creates risks beyond still-water elevation. 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 Maine communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 15 Maine 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 15% 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 Maine.