New Jersey Flood Zones
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%.
FEMA Region
Region 2
Also covers New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
NFIP Policies
200,000
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.
Federal Flood Disaster History
New Jersey has received 22 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
3
2010s
4
2000s
1
1990s
4
1980s
2
1970s
5
1960s
2
1950s
1
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 22 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
New Jersey properties have filed 202,131 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $6.3B in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $31K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
11,091
2010s
108,262
2000s
16,993
1990s
41,000
1980s
20,818
1970s
3,967
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone AE
94,268
Zone A
78,395
Zone X
20,262
Zone AO
2,410
Zone VE
1,585
Zone V
1,073
Zone AH
368
Zone AOB
267
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 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
Ocean City
Class 4 - 30% discount
Linwood
Class 5 - 25% discount
Upper
Class 5 - 25% discount
Berkeley
Class 5 - 25% discount
Mantoloking
Class 5 - 25% discount
Stafford Township
Class 5 - 25% discount
Little Falls
Class 5 - 25% discount
Manville
Class 5 - 25% discount
Beach Haven
Class 5 - 25% discount
Belmar
Class 5 - 25% discount
+79 more New Jersey communities participate in CRS.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any New Jersey Address
Enter a NJ address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupNew 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.
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 New Jersey.