Virginia Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Virginia faces coastal flooding along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coast, riverine flooding from the James, Potomac, and Shenandoah rivers, and flash flooding in the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountain valleys. Hampton Roads is one of the most sea level rise-vulnerable regions in the nation.
1 of 133 Virginia counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 30 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 25%.
Virginia has recorded 50,581 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $749.3M in payouts. See how Virginia compares in our nationwide NFIP claims data breakdown.
FEMA Region
Region 3
Also covers Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, +2 more
NFIP Policies
106,896
Policies effective in the trailing 13 months (July 1, 2025 - August 16, 2026), not a certified point-in-time count
VA Avg. Premium
$732/yr
National average: $915/yr
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Virginia properties have filed 50,581 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $749.3M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout in 2025 was $29,390.
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 Virginia
Only roughly 1 in 32 households in Virginia carries NFIP flood insurance (3% of estimated households). 118 of 133 counties have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage. With 7,273 recorded flood events and $675.2M in damage, many flood losses in this state are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
3%
roughly 1 in 32 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 2
50,581 claims over 45+ years across 106,896 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$14,814
Per claim, state-wide since 1978
Historically, Virginia has averaged 1 claim for every 2 active policies (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 Virginia
Virginia has 6,618 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 670 severe repetitive loss properties. 213 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
6,618
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
670
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
213
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 6,568 of 6,618 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Virginia
30 Virginia communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Virginia range from 5 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 25%.
Class 5 - 25% discount
Accomack County
Class 5 - 25% discount
Gloucester County
Class 5 - 25% discount
Henrico County
Class 5 - 25% discount
James City County
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 6 - 20% discount
Class 6 - 20% discount
Class 6 - 20% discount
Fairfax County
Class 6 - 20% discount
Prince William County
Class 6 - 20% discount
Stafford County
Class 6 - 20% discount
Class 7 - 15% 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
Virginia has received 32 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
Declarations by Decade
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 32 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events in Virginia
NOAA has recorded 7,273 flood events in Virginia since 1996, causing an estimated $675.2M in property and crop damage and 54 deaths.
Total Events
7,273
Total Damage
$675.2M
Fatalities
54
Events by Decade
Costliest Events
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation in Virginia
FEMA has funded mitigation for 1,972 properties in Virginia, investing $128.2M 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 Virginia
The USACE National Levee Database lists 11 levee systems protecting parts of 6 Virginia cities. 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.
By Accreditation Status
Largest Protected Areas
Bridgewater
AccreditedProtects: Bridgewater - Flood source: North River and Dry River - 1.08 sq mi
Richmond, Virginia (South)
AccreditedProtects: Richmond - Flood source: James River - 0.63 sq mi
Richmond, Virginia (North)
AccreditedProtects: Richmond - 0.26 sq mi
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Non-AccreditedProtects: Virginia Beach - Flood source: Atlantic Ocean - 0.18 sq mi
Roanoke FRP
Non-AccreditedProtects: Roanoke - Flood source: Roanoke River - 0.15 sq mi
Norfolk, Virginia - Central Business District
AccreditedProtects: Norfolk - 0.14 sq mi
...and 5 more systems tracked in the database.
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
Virginia Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 133 Virginia counties.
Inland Flood Risk
1 of 133 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
2 of 46 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
1 of 133 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Virginia Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Virginia.
Virginia Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Virginia property is in a flood zone?
Enter your VA 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 Virginia?
If your Virginia 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 Virginia's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Virginia?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Virginia are Zone AE, Zone VE, 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 Virginia property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Virginia 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 Virginia communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 30 Virginia 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.
How much does flood insurance cost in Virginia?
The average NFIP flood insurance premium in Virginia is $732 per year across 106,896 active policies. Premiums vary by zone: Zone AE policies average $884/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 Virginia counties have the highest flood risk?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Fairfax is among Virginia's highest-risk counties for inland flooding. Overall, 1 of 133 Virginia 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 Virginia had?
Virginia has recorded 50,581 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $749.3M in payouts since 1978. The highest-claim year was 2003, with 11,938 claims and $220.8M in payouts. This history reflects cumulative flood damage to Virginia properties across decades of storm and rainfall events.
How many Virginia properties have flooded repeatedly?
Virginia has 6,618 properties with multiple flood losses. Of these, 670 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. 213 of these properties have been mitigated.
What percentage of Virginia homes have flood insurance?
Only roughly 1 in 32 households in Virginia carries NFIP flood insurance (3% of estimated households). 118 counties in Virginia have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage, indicating a significant protection gap.
Are there levees protecting Virginia cities?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 11 levee systems protecting parts of 6 Virginia cities. 5 are FEMA-accredited (generally mapped as Zone X), 6 are 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 Virginia.
See the Flood Map for Any Virginia Address
Enter a VA 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.