Fargo, North Dakota Flood Zones
Fargo faces annual spring flooding from the Red River of the North, with the 2009 flood reaching record levels. The flat topography of the Red River Valley means floods spread across vast areas and recede slowly.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Cass 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 ModerateEst. annual loss: $34.2M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Cass County
Cass County has been included in 23 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 15 earlier declarations since 1970.
These declarations affected communities across Cass County, including Fargo.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Cass County
Properties in Cass County have filed 3,345 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $24.8M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $7K.
Highest-Claim Years
1997
1,201 claims - $10.2M
2009
725 claims - $10.0M
1979
266 claims - $899K
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
1,382
Zone A
1,058
Zone AE
637
Zone AH
25
Zone AHB
3
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Fargo
Properties in Fargo, ND are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Fargo
Fargo faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Fargo are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $34.2M.
Riverine flood risk in Fargo is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. 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.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Fargo address.
Flood Insurance Discount: Fargo
Fargo 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). Fargo'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 Fargo Address
Enter any Fargo, ND address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupFargo, ND Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Fargo, ND?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Fargo are Zone AE, 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 Fargo?
If your Fargo 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 Fargo?
Enter your Fargo 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 Fargo offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Fargo 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 Fargo experienced major flooding events?
Cass County, where Fargo is located, has been part of 23 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Flooding in 2020. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Fargo?
Cass County has recorded 3,345 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $24.8M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1997, with 1,201 claims and $10.2M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Fargo.
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