Baltimore, Maryland Flood Zones
Baltimore faces flooding from the Inner Harbor, Patapsco River, Gwynns Falls, and Jones Falls. The 2016 Ellicott City floods in the metro area highlighted the devastating flash flood potential in the region.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Baltimore 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 HighEst. annual loss: $52.4M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $559K
Hurricane Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $9.7M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Baltimore County
Baltimore County has been included in 9 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 2 earlier declarations since 1971.
These declarations affected communities across Baltimore County, including Baltimore.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Baltimore County
Properties in Baltimore County have filed 1,062 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $26.7M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $25K.
Highest-Claim Years
1979
188 claims - $2.5M
2003
155 claims - $7.7M
2018
80 claims - $1.3M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
443
Zone AE
314
Zone A
225
Zone AO
13
Zone V
4
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Baltimore
Properties in Baltimore, MD are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Baltimore
Baltimore 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 Baltimore are Zone AE, Zone AO, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $52.4M. Baltimore 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 Baltimore 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 Baltimore 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 Baltimore address.
Flood Insurance Discount: Baltimore
Baltimore 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). Baltimore'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, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Check Your Baltimore Address
Enter any Baltimore, MD address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupBaltimore, MD Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Baltimore, MD?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Baltimore 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 Baltimore?
If your Baltimore 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 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Baltimore?
Enter your Baltimore 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 Baltimore offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Baltimore 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 Baltimore experienced major flooding events?
Baltimore County, where Baltimore is located, has been part of 9 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Baltimore?
Baltimore County has recorded 1,062 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $26.7M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1979, with 188 claims and $2.5M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Baltimore.
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