North Dakota Flood Zones
North Dakota faces severe spring flooding from snowmelt in the Red River Valley, Missouri River flooding, and overland flooding in the flat prairie terrain. The Red River's northward flow and flat topography create some of the most extensive flood events in the nation.
11 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 25%.
FEMA Region
Region 8
Also covers Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, +2 more
NFIP Policies
9,000
North Dakota Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 53 North Dakota counties.
Inland Flood Risk
0 of 53 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
North Dakota has received 34 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
3
2010s
10
2000s
2
1990s
4
1980s
2
1970s
9
1960s
4
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 34 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
North Dakota properties have filed 13,307 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $259.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $19K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
92
2010s
2,718
2000s
2,031
1990s
5,766
1980s
563
1970s
2,137
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
5,490
Zone A
3,534
Zone AE
1,989
Zone D
731
Zone AH
25
Zone V
3
Zone AHB
3
Zone VE
1
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in North Dakota
11 North Dakota communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in North Dakota range from 5 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 25%.
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 6 - 20% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Carpio
Class 8 - 10% discount
Donnybrook
Class 8 - 10% discount
Sawyer
Class 8 - 10% discount
Burlington
Class 8 - 10% discount
Valley City
Class 9 - 5% discount
Dickinson
Class 9 - 5% discount
Burlington
Class 9 - 5% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any North Dakota Address
Enter a ND address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupNorth Dakota Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in North Dakota.
North Dakota Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my North Dakota property is in a flood zone?
Enter your ND 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 North Dakota?
If your North Dakota 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 North Dakota's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in North Dakota?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in North Dakota are Zone AE, 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 North Dakota property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your North Dakota 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. For properties in North Dakota's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. 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 North Dakota communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 11 North Dakota 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 25% 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 North Dakota.