Massachusetts Flood Zones
Massachusetts faces coastal flooding from Atlantic nor'easters and hurricane storm surge, riverine flooding from the Connecticut, Merrimack, and other rivers, and urban flooding in densely developed areas. Boston's waterfront and filled land areas are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise.
7 of 14 Massachusetts counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 22 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 20%.
FEMA Region
Region 1
Also covers Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, +2 more
NFIP Policies
52,000
Massachusetts Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 14 Massachusetts counties.
Inland Flood Risk
7 of 14 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
5 of 9 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
6 of 14 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Massachusetts has received 22 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
3
2010s
5
2000s
2
1990s
6
1980s
2
1970s
2
1950s
2
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 22 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Massachusetts properties have filed 35,348 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $439.9M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $12K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
1,113
2010s
7,214
2000s
5,344
1990s
12,290
1980s
4,419
1970s
4,968
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
11,707
Zone X
7,399
Zone AE
7,356
Zone V
1,757
Zone VE
1,732
Zone AO
971
Zone AH
249
Zone AOB
110
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Massachusetts
22 Massachusetts communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Massachusetts range from 6 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 20%.
Sandwich
Class 6 - 20% discount
Winchester
Class 6 - 20% discount
Chatham
Class 7 - 15% discount
Eastham
Class 7 - 15% discount
Harwich
Class 7 - 15% discount
Mashpee
Class 7 - 15% discount
Orleans
Class 7 - 15% discount
Wellfleet
Class 7 - 15% discount
Braintree
Class 7 - 15% discount
Hull
Class 7 - 15% discount
Marshfield
Class 7 - 15% discount
Scituate
Class 7 - 15% discount
+10 more Massachusetts communities participate in CRS.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any Massachusetts Address
Enter a MA address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupMassachusetts Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Massachusetts property is in a flood zone?
Enter your MA 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 Massachusetts?
If your Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Massachusetts?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Massachusetts are Zone AE, Zone VE, 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 Massachusetts property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 22 Massachusetts 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 20% 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 Massachusetts.