Richmond, Virginia Flood Zones
Richmond faces flooding from the James River, which flows through downtown. Hurricane-driven rainfall has caused major flood events, and the city's low-lying areas along the river remain vulnerable.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Richmond 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: $21.9M
Coastal Flood Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $15K
Hurricane Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $1.8M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Richmond County
Richmond County has been included in 10 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 2 earlier declarations since 1972.
These declarations affected communities across Richmond County, including Richmond.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Richmond County
Properties in Richmond County have filed 547 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $11.8M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $22K.
Highest-Claim Years
1985
171 claims - $6.2M
1987
148 claims - $1.5M
1979
47 claims - $284K
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
359
Zone X
117
Zone AE
32
Zone D
2
Zone V
1
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Richmond
Properties in Richmond, VA are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Richmond
Richmond 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 Richmond are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $21.9M.
Riverine flood risk in Richmond 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 Richmond address.
Flood Insurance Discount: Richmond
Richmond 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 8
SFHA Premium Discount
10% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Richmond's Class 8 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 10% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Check Your Richmond Address
Enter any Richmond, VA address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupRichmond, VA Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Richmond, VA?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Richmond 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 Richmond?
If your Richmond 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 Richmond?
Enter your Richmond 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 Richmond offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Richmond participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 8 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 10% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Has Richmond experienced major flooding events?
Richmond County, where Richmond is located, has been part of 10 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Florence in 2018. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Richmond?
Richmond County has recorded 547 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $11.8M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1985, with 171 claims and $6.2M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Richmond.
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