New Jersey Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
New Jersey faces coastal flooding from Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay storm surge, riverine flooding from the Passaic, Raritan, and Delaware rivers, and urban flash flooding. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 caused devastating coastal flooding along the Jersey Shore.
13 of 21 New Jersey counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 91 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 35%.
New Jersey has recorded 202,287 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $6.3B in payouts. See how New Jersey compares in our nationwide NFIP claims data breakdown.
FEMA Region
Region 2
Also covers New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
NFIP Policies
228,444
Policies effective in the trailing 13 months (July 1, 2025 - August 16, 2026), not a certified point-in-time count
NJ Avg. Premium
$1,072/yr
National average: $915/yr
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
New Jersey properties have filed 202,287 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $6.3B in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout in 2025 was $37,394.
Recent Years
Claims by Decade
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage in New Jersey
Only roughly 1 in 16 households in New Jersey carries NFIP flood insurance (6% of estimated households). 18 of 21 counties have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage. With 2,611 recorded flood events and $2.2B in damage, many flood losses in this state are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
6%
roughly 1 in 16 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
202,287 claims over 45+ years across 228,444 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$30,943
Per claim, state-wide since 1978
Historically, New Jersey 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.
Repetitive Loss Properties in New Jersey
New Jersey has 16,212 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 3,101 severe repetitive loss properties. 1,138 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
16,212
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
3,101
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
1,138
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 16,095 of 16,212 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in New Jersey
91 New Jersey communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in New Jersey range from 3 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 35%.
Class 3 - 35% discount
Class 3 - 35% discount
Class 4 - 30% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only. CRS classes and discounts are subject to change.
Federal Flood Disaster History
New Jersey has received 22 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
Declarations by Decade
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 22 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events in New Jersey
NOAA has recorded 2,611 flood events in New Jersey since 1996, causing an estimated $2.2B in property and crop damage and 52 deaths.
Total Events
2,611
Total Damage
$2.2B
Fatalities
52
Events by Decade
Costliest Events
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation in New Jersey
FEMA has funded mitigation for 9,085 properties in New Jersey, investing $559.6M 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).
Properties by Action
Mitigation by Decade
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Mitigated Properties. 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.
Levee Protection in New Jersey
The USACE National Levee Database lists 1 levee system protecting parts of 1 New Jersey city. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped - accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited (PAL) systems generally leave their protected area in the SFHA.
Largest Protected Areas
Rahway, Rahway River South Branch RB
Non-AccreditedProtects: Rahway - Flood source: Rahway River - 0.11 sq mi
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
New Jersey Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 21 New Jersey counties.
Inland Flood Risk
13 of 21 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
10 of 17 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
3 of 21 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
New Jersey Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in New Jersey.
New Jersey Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my New Jersey property is in a flood zone?
Enter your NJ 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 New Jersey?
If your New Jersey 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 New Jersey's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in New Jersey?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in New Jersey are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone AO, 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 New Jersey property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your New Jersey 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 New Jersey communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 91 New Jersey 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 35% 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.
How much does flood insurance cost in New Jersey?
The average NFIP flood insurance premium in New Jersey is $1,072 per year across 228,444 active policies. Premiums vary by zone: Zone AE policies average $1,140/yr. Under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, your specific premium depends on property type, elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation, and distance to water, not just your flood zone designation.
Which New Jersey counties have the highest flood risk?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Bergen, Middlesex, Morris are among New Jersey's highest-risk counties for inland flooding. Overall, 13 of 21 New Jersey counties are rated "High" or "Very High" for inland flood risk. County-level ratings account for historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
How many NFIP flood insurance claims has New Jersey had?
New Jersey has recorded 202,287 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $6.3B in payouts since 1978. The highest-claim year was 2012, with 75,727 claims and $4.1B in payouts. This history reflects cumulative flood damage to New Jersey properties across decades of storm and rainfall events.
How many New Jersey properties have flooded repeatedly?
New Jersey has 16,212 properties with multiple flood losses. Of these, 3,101 are classified as Severe Repetitive Loss, meaning they have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000 or more, or two or more claims where the total exceeds the building value. 1,138 of these properties have been mitigated.
What percentage of New Jersey homes have flood insurance?
Only roughly 1 in 16 households in New Jersey carries NFIP flood insurance (6% of estimated households). 18 counties in New Jersey have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage, indicating a significant protection gap.
Are there levees protecting New Jersey cities?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 1 levee system protecting parts of 1 New Jersey city. 0 are FEMA-accredited (generally mapped as Zone X), 1 is non-accredited (the protected area stays in the SFHA), and 0 are provisionally accredited (PAL, accreditation in progress). Levee protection is system-specific, not citywide - check a specific city's page or use the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in New Jersey.
See the Flood Map for Any New Jersey Address
Enter a NJ 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.