Look up the FEMA flood zone for an address
Enter a US street address. We match it with the US Census geocoder and read FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer at that point.
Checking this home before an offer? Add a full pre-offer check for this address →
A lookup is a map reading, not an official flood determination or an insurance quote.
How to check a New York City flood zone
To check a New York City flood zone, look up the address on FEMA’s map or FloodHelpNY for the 2007 effective zone, which governs flood insurance, and on the NYC Flood Hazard Mapper for the 2015 preliminary zone and future sea-level-rise scenarios. Since March 20, 2024, sellers must also answer flood questions on New York’s Property Condition Disclosure Statement.
Key takeaways
- Flood insurance in NYC is still based on FEMA’s 2007 effective maps.
- FEMA’s 2015 preliminary maps, appealed by the city, are used for building code and zoning purposes.
- New York removed the $500 disclosure opt-out and added flood questions, effective March 20, 2024.
- New York City does not participate in FEMA’s Community Rating System, so NFIP policies there get no CRS discount.
Official local flood tools
Two maps, two purposes
FEMA issued preliminary flood maps for New York City in January 2015; the city appealed in June 2015 and FEMA agreed in 2016 to revise them. Until new maps take effect, the 2007 maps set flood insurance requirements while the 2015 preliminary maps inform the building code and zoning. A home can therefore sit outside the insurance high-risk zone yet inside the building-rules floodplain. The city has not published a final date for new maps; check the NYC flood maps page for updates.
New York’s flood disclosure
Chapter 484 of the Laws of 2023 amended Real Property Law §462, effective March 20, 2024: the Property Condition Disclosure Statement now asks whether the property is in a FEMA 100- or 500-year floodplain, whether flood insurance is required, about flood claims, FEMA assistance, current flood insurance and elevation certificates, and sellers can no longer opt out with a $500 credit. S.5400.
NFIP premium discount in the high-risk zone, by community
Other city flood guides
Questions people ask
How do I know if my NYC home is in a flood zone?
Look up the address on FloodHelpNY or FEMA’s map for the 2007 insurance zone, and on the NYC Flood Hazard Mapper for the 2015 preliminary zone.
Which NYC flood map applies to my insurance?
The 2007 effective FEMA map, until FEMA adopts new maps.
Do NYC sellers have to disclose flooding?
Yes. Since March 20, 2024, the Property Condition Disclosure Statement includes flood questions and the $500 credit opt-out was removed.
Buying in New York City?
Send the address for a pre-offer property check: flood zone, recorded ownership, liens and permits for the parcel, with the questions to raise before your contingency ends.
- Parcel & owner of record matched
- Liens, permits & flood zone in one place
- Gaps turned into questions for your team
Sources & method
We start with the agency or statute that governs each rule and link to it directly. Figures carry their source and date. Rules and forms change; confirm the current version with the responsible office or a qualified professional.
- NYC: Hurricane Sandy recovery
- NYC flood maps
- NYC appeal of FEMA’s preliminary maps
- FloodHelpNY
- New York RPL §462
- New York S.5400 (2023)
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- FEMA CRS eligible communities, April 2025
- FEMA: NFIP reauthorization
Reviewed September 25, 2026 by the PropertyDataCheck editorial team. Corrections: info@propertydatacheck.com. How we research and update guides.