Tacoma, WA Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Tacoma faces coastal flooding from Puget Sound and riverine flooding from the Puyallup River, which carries volcanic lahar risk from Mount Rainier. The industrial port area and Puyallup River valley are particularly vulnerable.
Pierce County has recorded 1,105 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $25.3M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 10
NFIP Policies
2,846
Pierce County
Avg. Premium
$856/yr
Pierce County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Pierce County
Properties in Pierce County have filed 1,105 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $25.3M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $23K.
Highest-Claim Years
2009
230 claims - $7.5M
1996
207 claims - $5.9M
2006
143 claims - $3.6M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Pierce County
Only roughly 1 in 128 households in Pierce County carries NFIP flood insurance (0.8% of estimated households). With 3 recorded flood events and $10.9M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.8%
roughly 1 in 128 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 3
1,105 claims over 45+ years across 2,846 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$22,927
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Pierce County has averaged 1 claim for every 3 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. All figures are county-wide and include Tacoma.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Pierce County
Pierce County has 126 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 9 severe repetitive loss properties. 27 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
126
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
9
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
27
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 122 of 126 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Tacoma
Tacoma has no CRS rating of its own, but it sits in Pierce County, which 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 2
SFHA Premium Discount
40% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Pierce County's Class 2 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 40% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Pierce County
Pierce County has been included in 12 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 4 earlier declarations since 1964.
These declarations affected communities across Pierce County, including Tacoma.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Pierce County
NOAA has recorded 3 flood events in Pierce County since 1996, causing $10.9M in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Pierce County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 203 properties in Pierce County, investing $25.9M 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).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. 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: Tacoma
The USACE National Levee Database lists 2 levee systems protecting parts of Tacoma. 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 systems generally leave their protected area in the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until certification is complete.
Puyallup Authorized LB
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Puyallup - Sponsor: USACE - Seattle District - 0.98 sq mi protected
Puyallup Authorized RB / North Levee Road
AccreditedProtects against: Puyallup River - Sponsor: Pierce County, USACE - Seattle District - 7.52 sq mi protected
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Pierce 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 HighEst. annual loss: $121.6M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $1.5M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Tacoma
Tacoma faces a combination of coastal and inland flood risks. Storm surge from hurricanes and tropical storms pushes seawater inland, while heavy rainfall simultaneously overwhelms rivers, bayous, and drainage infrastructure. This dual threat means flooding can come from multiple directions at once. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Tacoma are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $121.6M. Properties in Tacoma's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Combined coastal and inland flood exposure in Tacoma means properties may face higher premiums than areas with only one flood source. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 accounts for multiple flood sources, including coastal surge distance, river proximity, and rainfall-driven 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.
Flood maps in areas with combined coastal and inland risk are among the most complex in the FEMA system. Major storms often trigger FEMA restudies that can significantly shift zone boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) after hurricanes may expand SFHA coverage as new storm data is incorporated. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Tacoma address.
Tacoma, WA Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Tacoma, WA?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Tacoma 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 Tacoma?
If your Tacoma 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 a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Tacoma?
Enter your Tacoma 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 Tacoma offer flood insurance discounts?
Tacoma itself has no CRS rating, but it sits in Pierce County, which participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 2 rating. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area qualify for up to a 40% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Tacoma experienced major flooding events?
Pierce County, where Tacoma is located, has been part of 12 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in 2026. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Tacoma?
Pierce County has recorded 1,105 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $25.3M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2009, with 230 claims and $7.5M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Tacoma.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Tacoma?
Pierce County had 2,846 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $856. The most policies are in Zone X (1,212 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Tacoma properties have flooded repeatedly?
Pierce County has 126 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 9 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.
Is Tacoma protected by a levee?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 2 levee systems protecting parts of Tacoma. Some of these are FEMA-accredited and some are not - accreditation status varies by system, and only the accredited ones map their protected area as Zone X. Levee protection is system-specific, not city-wide - check the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Can my Tacoma 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 Tacoma?
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 Tacoma'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 Washington Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Tacoma, WA Address
Enter a Tacoma, WA 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.