Virginia Beach, VA Flood Zone Lookup
Last updated: March 2026
Virginia Beach faces Atlantic Ocean storm surge, coastal flooding, and recurrent tidal flooding. The city's extensive oceanfront and back-bay areas are vulnerable to flooding from both nor'easters and hurricanes.
Virginia Beach County has recorded 6,253 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $103.1M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 3
NFIP Policies
22,803
Virginia Beach County
Avg. Premium
$531/yr
Virginia Beach County
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Virginia Beach 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
Very LowEst. annual loss: $5.0M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $1.4M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $9.8M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Virginia Beach County
Virginia Beach County has been included in 11 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 3 earlier declarations since 1972.
These declarations affected communities across Virginia Beach County, including Virginia Beach.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Virginia Beach County
Properties in Virginia Beach County have filed 6,253 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $103.1M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $16K.
Highest-Claim Years
2016
1,494 claims - $53.4M
2009
866 claims - $18.2M
2003
643 claims - $6.9M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced March 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Virginia Beach County
Only roughly 1 in 8 households in Virginia Beach County carries NFIP flood insurance (13% of estimated households). This county has elevated flood risk with below-average insurance coverage, meaning many flood losses may go uninsured.
Penetration Rate
13%
roughly 1 in 8 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 4
6,253 claims over 45+ years across 22,803 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$16,481
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Virginia Beach County has averaged 1 claim for every 4 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 March 2026, claims since 1978 (March 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Virginia Beach.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is primarily at risk from coastal flooding, including hurricane storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action. Coastal storms can push seawater inland with little warning, and properties in VE (Velocity) zones face the most severe exposure to breaking waves. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Virginia Beach are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $5.0M. Properties in Virginia Beach's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Coastal flood insurance premiums in Virginia Beach are typically higher than inland areas due to the destructive force of storm surge and wave action. Properties in VE zones face the highest premiums because wave damage compounds the risk beyond still-water flooding. 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.
Coastal flood maps are among the most frequently updated in the FEMA system, as shoreline erosion and new storm surge modeling refine the boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) may shift VE and AE zone boundaries after major storms or updated coastal studies. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Virginia Beach address.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Virginia Beach County
Virginia Beach County has 666 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 110 severe repetitive loss properties. 11 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced March 2026.
Multiple Loss
666
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
110
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
11
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 665 of 666 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced March 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Virginia Beach (c) County
NOAA has recorded 85 flood events in Virginia Beach (c) County since 1996, causing $5.0M in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach 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 7
SFHA Premium Discount
15% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Virginia Beach's Class 7 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 15% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Virginia Beach, VA Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Virginia Beach, VA?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Virginia Beach are Zone AE, Zone VE, 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 Virginia Beach?
If your Virginia Beach 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 over 40% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Virginia Beach?
Enter your Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Virginia Beach participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 7 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 15% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Has Virginia Beach experienced major flooding events?
Virginia Beach County, where Virginia Beach is located, has been part of 11 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 Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach County has recorded 6,253 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $103.1M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2016, with 1,494 claims and $53.4M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Virginia Beach.
How many flood insurance policies are active in Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach County currently has 22,803 active NFIP flood insurance policies with an average annual premium of $531. The most policies are in Zone X (11,943 policies). These figures cover all active NFIP policies in the county.
How many Virginia Beach properties have flooded repeatedly?
Virginia Beach County has 666 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 110 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Can my Virginia Beach property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Virginia Beach?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Virginia Beach's Zone AE and Zone VE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other Virginia Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
Look Up Any Virginia Beach, VA Address
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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 March 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a certified flood zone determination. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.