What does flood zone A mean?
FEMA's flood map splits land into zones. The high-risk area is every zone whose letter starts with A or V. That land has at least a 1 percent chance of flooding in any year. People call that flood the 100-year flood. It does not mean once a century. It is a 1 percent chance every year.
Zone A is high-risk land where FEMA has not set a base flood elevation (BFE), the height the water is expected to reach in that flood. The map shows the risk area but not how high the water may go. Before you build in Zone A, the county may ask for a study to find that height.
What does flood zone AH mean?
Zone AH is high-risk land where the water is shallow and ponds, usually 1 to 3 feet deep. FEMA has set a flood height for it, so the map shows a BFE.
What does flood zone AO mean?
Zone AO is high-risk land where the water runs across the ground in a shallow sheet or ponds, usually 1 to 3 feet deep. The map shows a depth number instead of a BFE.
Is shallow water lower risk?
No. AH and AO are inside the high-risk area, the same as Zone A and Zone AE. Shallow water still fills a home, and the lender rule is the same.
What is the difference between Zone A and AE?
Both are high-risk. The only difference is the flood height. In Zone AE, FEMA has set one. In Zone A, it has not. The lender rule is the same for both. For more on Zone AE, read flood zone AE explained.
| Zone | What it means | Flood height (BFE) on the map? | Lender must require a policy? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Inland high-risk land | No | Yes |
| AE | Inland high-risk land with a set flood height | Yes | Yes |
| AH | Shallow ponding, usually 1 to 3 feet | Yes | Yes |
| AO | Shallow sheet flow or ponding, usually 1 to 3 feet | No. A depth is shown instead. | Yes |
The "lender must require" column applies when the loan comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is backed by the federal government.
What about Zones AR and A99?
Both are also in FEMA's high-risk area. Zone AR is land behind a levee or other flood protection system that lost its approval and is being restored. Zone A99 is land that a federal flood protection system still being built will protect. None of the 39 Florida county flood studies we have read lists AR or A99 for any city or county.
Does flood zone AH require flood insurance?
Yes, when the loan is covered by the federal rule. The same answer holds for Zone A and Zone AO. All three are inside the high-risk area. If the home secures a loan from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a loan the federal government backs, the lender must require flood insurance.
If your lender says you need flood insurance, read what to do when your lender requires flood insurance.
Buying a house in flood zone A, AH or AO: what should you check?
Before you sign, three steps help:
- Read the seller's flood disclosure. In Florida, the seller must give you a flood disclosure at or before the time the sales contract is signed. It asks if the seller knows of flooding that damaged the home while they owned it, filed a flood claim, or got help for flood damage.
- Ask the seller for an elevation certificate. If they have one, it can save you a new survey, and you can send it with your application.
- Get a flood quote before you close. The price comes from the home, so a quote on this house tells you more than a neighbor's bill.
What does flood insurance cost in Zones A, AH and AO?
Same flood zone, very different prices. Under Risk Rating 2.0, the NFIP price comes from the home and its spot: how high the first floor sits, what it would cost to rebuild, how far it is from the water, and how often that spot floods. The zone letter does not set it.
What you can do:
- Ask about an elevation certificate. It records how high your first floor sits. A licensed land surveyor, engineer or architect fills it out. You do not need one to buy a policy, and it may lower the price.
- Compare a private quote. Private flood insurers set their own prices.
See what decides your flood insurance price.
Florida counties with Zones A, AH or AO on the FEMA map
Every one of Florida's 67 counties has at least one of these zones on its FEMA flood map. Zone A shows up in 65 of them, Zone AH in 30 and Zone AO in 25. For 39 counties the list comes from the county's FEMA Flood Insurance Study, the "Flood Zone Designations by Community" table, which names the zones on the map for every city and the county's unincorporated land. For the other 28, the study has no such table, so the list comes from FEMA's flood map data for the whole county.
| County | Zones on the map | FEMA flood study or map in force |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua County | A, AO | County-wide flood map, effective September 24, 2021 |
| Baker County | A | County-wide flood map, effective June 17, 2008 |
| Bay County | A, AH, AO | 12005CV001C, October 24, 2024 |
| Bradford County | A | County-wide flood map, effective November 2, 2018 |
| Brevard County | A, AH, AO | 12009CV001B, January 29, 2021 |
| Broward County | AH, AO | 12011CV001B, July 31, 2024 |
| Calhoun County | A, AH | 12013CV001B, November 14, 2025 |
| Charlotte County | A | 12015CV001B, December 15, 2022 |
| Citrus County | A | 12017CV001B, January 15, 2021 |
| Clay County | A, AH | County-wide flood map, effective March 17, 2014 |
| Collier County | A, AH, AO | 12021CV001C, February 8, 2024 |
| Columbia County | A, AH | County-wide flood map, effective November 2, 2018 |
| DeSoto County | A | 12027CV000B, October 7, 2021 |
| Dixie County | A, AH | 12029CV000C, January 18, 2019 |
| Duval County | A, AH, AO | 12031CV001B, November 2, 2018 |
| Escambia County | A | 12033CV000B, August 19, 2025 |
| Flagler County | A, AO | 12035CV001B, June 6, 2018 |
| Franklin County | A, AH | County-wide flood map, effective October 10, 2024 |
| Gadsden County | A | County-wide flood map, effective February 4, 2009 |
| Gilchrist County | A | County-wide flood map, effective January 19, 2018 |
| Glades County | A, AH | 12043CV000C, March 22, 2022 |
| Gulf County | A, AO | 12045CV000C, March 9, 2021 |
| Hamilton County | A | 12047CV000D, April 23, 2025 |
| Hardee County | A | County-wide flood map, effective November 6, 2013 |
| Hendry County | A, AH | 12051CV000B, May 15, 2020 |
| Hernando County | A, AH, AO | 12053CV001B, January 15, 2021 |
| Highlands County | A | County-wide flood map, effective November 18, 2015 |
| Hillsborough County (map) | A, AH, AO | 12057CV001C, October 7, 2021 |
| Holmes County | A | County-wide flood map, effective December 17, 2010 |
| Indian River County | A, AO | 12061CV001B, January 26, 2023 |
| Jackson County | A | 12063CV000B, November 14, 2025 |
| Jefferson County | A | County-wide flood map, effective April 23, 2025 |
| Lafayette County | A | County-wide flood map, effective October 5, 2017 |
| Lake County | A | County-wide flood map, effective December 18, 2012 |
| Lee County | A, AH, AO | 12071CV001C, November 17, 2022 (until March 2, 2027) |
| Leon County | A | County-wide flood map, effective August 18, 2009 |
| Levy County | A, AO | 12075CV000D, January 28, 2022 |
| Liberty County | A | 12077CV000B, August 2, 2022 |
| Madison County | A | 12079CV000D, April 23, 2025 |
| Manatee County | A, AO | 12081CV001B |
| Marion County | A, AH | 12083CV001B, April 19, 2017 |
| Martin County | A, AH, AO | 12085CV001C, February 19, 2020 |
| Miami-Dade County | A, AH | County-wide flood map, effective September 11, 2009 |
| Monroe County | AO | County-wide flood map, effective February 18, 2005 |
| Nassau County | A, AO | County-wide flood map, effective August 2, 2017 |
| Okaloosa County | A, AO | 12091CV000B, March 9, 2021 |
| Okeechobee County | A | County-wide flood map, effective July 16, 2015 |
| Orange County | A, AH | County-wide flood map, effective September 24, 2021 |
| Osceola County | A, AH | County-wide flood map, effective June 18, 2013 |
| Palm Beach County | A, AH, AO | 12099CV001B, December 20, 2024 |
| Pasco County | A, AH | 12101CV001B, June 5, 2020 |
| Pinellas County (map) | A, AH, AO | 12103CV001D, August 24, 2021 |
| Polk County | A, AH | County-wide flood map, effective December 22, 2016 |
| Putnam County | A | County-wide flood map, effective February 2, 2012 |
| Santa Rosa County | A, AO | 12113CV000B, November 19, 2021 |
| Sarasota County | A, AH, AO | 12115CV001B, March 27, 2024 |
| Seminole County | A, AH | County-wide flood map, effective September 28, 2007 |
| St. Johns County | A, AH, AO | 12109CV001D, December 7, 2018 |
| St. Lucie County | A, AH, AO | County-wide flood map, effective February 19, 2020 |
| Sumter County | A | 12119CV001B, June 5, 2020 |
| Suwannee County | A | County-wide flood map, effective August 28, 2018 |
| Taylor County | A, AH | 12123CV000B, February 1, 2019 |
| Union County | A | County-wide flood map, effective November 2, 2018 |
| Volusia County | A, AH | 12127CV001D, September 29, 2017 |
| Wakulla County | A | 12129CV000B, August 2, 2022 |
| Walton County | A, AO | 12131CV000B, December 30, 2020 |
| Washington County | A | County-wide flood map, effective July 4, 2011 |
Every city, town and unincorporated area with Zone A, AH or AO, by county
Bay County (8): Unincorporated Bay County: A, AH, AO; Callaway (city): A; Lynn Haven (city): A; Mexico Beach (city): A; Panama City (city): A; Panama City Beach (city): A; Parker (city): A; Springfield (city): A.
Brevard County (13): Unincorporated Brevard County: A, AH, AO; Cape Canaveral (city): AO; Cocoa (city): A; Cocoa Beach (city): AO; Grant-Valkaria (town): A; Malabar (town): A; Melbourne (city): A; Palm Bay (city): A; Palm Shores (town): A; Rockledge (city): A, AH; Satellite Beach (city): AO; Titusville (city): A; West Melbourne (city): A.
Broward County (29): Unincorporated Broward County: AH; Coconut Creek (city): AH; Cooper City (city): AH; Coral Springs (city): AH; Dania Beach (city): AH; Davie (town): AH; Deerfield Beach (city): AH, AO; Fort Lauderdale (city): AH, AO; Hallandale Beach (city): AH, AO; Hillsboro Beach (town): AO; Hollywood (city): AH, AO; Lauderdale-By-The-Sea (town): AO; Lauderdale Lakes (city): AH; Lauderhill (city): AH; Lighthouse Point (city): AH; Margate (city): AH; Miramar (city): AH; North Lauderdale (city): AH; Oakland Park (city): AH; Pembroke Park (town): AH; Pembroke Pines (city): AH; Plantation (city): AH; Pompano Beach (city): AH, AO; Seminole Tribe of Florida: AH; Southwest Ranches (town): AH; Sunrise (city): AH; Tamarac (city): AH; West Park (city): AH; Weston (city): AH.
Calhoun County (3): Altha (town): A; Blountstown (city): A, AH; Unincorporated Calhoun County: A.
Charlotte County (1): Unincorporated Charlotte County: A.
Citrus County (2): Unincorporated Citrus County: A; Inverness (city): A.
Collier County (3): Unincorporated Collier County: A, AH, AO; Naples (city): AH, AO; Seminole Tribe of Florida: AH.
DeSoto County (2): Arcadia (city): A; Unincorporated DeSoto County: A.
Dixie County (2): Cross City (town): A, AH; Unincorporated Dixie County: A.
Duval County (4): Atlantic Beach (city): A; Jacksonville (city): A, AH, AO; Jacksonville Beach (city): A, AO; Neptune Beach (city): AO.
Escambia County (3): Century (town): A; Unincorporated Escambia County: A; Pensacola (city): A.
Flagler County (4): Bunnell (city): A; Unincorporated Flagler County: A, AO; Marineland (town): AO; Palm Coast (city): A.
Glades County (1): Unincorporated Glades County: A, AH.
Gulf County (3): Unincorporated Gulf County: A, AO; Port St. Joe (city): A, AO; Wewahitchka (city): A.
Hamilton County (4): Unincorporated Hamilton County: A; Jasper (city): A; Jennings (town): A; White Springs (town): A.
Hendry County (2): Unincorporated Hendry County: A, AH; LaBelle (city): A, AH.
Hernando County (2): Brooksville (city): A, AO, AH; Unincorporated Hernando County: A, AO, AH.
Hillsborough County (4): Unincorporated Hillsborough County: A, AH, AO; Plant City (city): A; Tampa (city): A; Temple Terrace (city): A.
Indian River County (4): Fellsmere (city): A; Unincorporated Indian River County: A, AO; Sebastian (city): A; Vero Beach (city): AO.
Jackson County (12): Alford (town): A; Bascom (town): A; Campbellton (town): A; Cottondale (city): A; Graceville (city): A; Grand Ridge (town): A; Greenwood (town): A; Unincorporated Jackson County: A; Jacob City (town): A; Malone (town): A; Marianna (city): A; Sneads (town): A.
Lee County (6): Bonita Springs (city): A; Cape Coral (city): A; Estero (village): A, AH; Fort Myers (city): A, AH; Unincorporated Lee County: A, AH, AO; Sanibel (city): AO.
Levy County (6): Bronson (town): A; Cedar Key (city): AO; Inglis (town): A; Unincorporated Levy County: A; Otter Creek (town): A; Williston (city): A.
Liberty County (2): Bristol (city): A; Unincorporated Liberty County: A.
Madison County (3): Greenville (town): A; Madison (city): A; Unincorporated Madison County: A.
Manatee County (3): Bradenton (city): A, AO; Unincorporated Manatee County: A, AO; Palmetto (city): A, AO.
Marion County (4): Belleview (city): A; Dunnellon (city): A; Unincorporated Marion County: A, AH; Ocala (city): A, AH.
Martin County (2): Jupiter Island (town): AO; Unincorporated Martin County: A, AH, AO.
Okaloosa County (8): Crestview (city): A; Destin (city): A, AO; Fort Walton Beach (city): A; Laurel Hill (city): A; Mary Esther (city): A; Niceville (city): A; Unincorporated Okaloosa County: A, AO; Valparaiso (city): A.
Palm Beach County (15): Boca Raton (city): A, AH, AO; Briny Breezes (town): AO; Delray Beach (city): A; Gulf Stream (town): AO; Jupiter (town): A, AO; Lake Park (town): AH; Manalapan (town): AO; Mangonia Park (town): A, AH; North Palm Beach (village): AO; Ocean Ridge (town): AO; Palm Beach (town): AO; Unincorporated Palm Beach County: A, AH, AO; Palm Beach Gardens (city): AH, AO; Riviera Beach (city): AH, AO; West Palm Beach (city): A, AH.
Pasco County (6): Dade City (city): A; New Port Richey (city): A; Unincorporated Pasco County: A, AH; San Antonio (city): A; St. Leo (town): A; Zephyrhills (city): A.
Pinellas County (9): Clearwater (city): A, AO; Dunedin (city): A, AO; Indian Rocks Beach (city): AO; Kenneth City (town): A; Largo (city): A; Oldsmar (city): A; Unincorporated Pinellas County: A, AO; Pinellas Park (city): A, AH; St. Petersburg (city): A, AO.
Santa Rosa County (3): Gulf Breeze (city): AO; Jay (town): A; Unincorporated Santa Rosa County: A.
Sarasota County (4): Longboat Key (town): AO; Unincorporated Sarasota County: A, AH, AO; Sarasota (city): A, AH, AO; Venice (city): A, AO.
St. Johns County (2): St. Augustine Beach (city): AO; Unincorporated St. Johns County: A, AH, AO.
Sumter County (6): Bushnell (city): A; Center Hill (city): A; Coleman (city): A; Unincorporated Sumter County: A; Webster (city): A; Wildwood (city): A.
Taylor County (2): Perry (city): A, AH; Unincorporated Taylor County: A, AH.
Volusia County (15): Daytona Beach (city): A, AH; DeBary (city): A; DeLand (city): A; Deltona (city): A; Edgewater (city): A; Holly Hill (city): A; Lake Helen (city): A; New Smyrna Beach (city): A; Oak Hill (city): A; Orange City (city): A; Ormond Beach (city): A, AH; Pierson (town): A; Port Orange (city): A, AH; South Daytona (city): A; Unincorporated Volusia County: A, AH.
Wakulla County (2): Sopchoppy (city): A; Unincorporated Wakulla County: A.
Walton County (4): DeFuniak Springs (city): A; Freeport (city): A; Paxton (town): A; Unincorporated Walton County: A, AO.
A row marked county-wide comes from FEMA's flood map data for the whole county, because that county's study has no city-by-city zone table. The zone is on the map somewhere in that county, not in every city. Miami-Dade County's row is the map in force today; its new study takes effect February 19, 2027. Lee County's newest study takes effect March 2, 2027, so the Lee row shows the study in force until then.
To compare these zones with Zone X and the coastal VE zone, read flood zone X vs AE vs VE. For the land just outside the high-risk area, read flood zone X explained. For the coastal high-risk zone with waves, read flood zone VE explained.
Is your address in Zone A, AH or AO?
A neighbor's zone or a ZIP code is not enough. What zone is your home in? Check my address and see the FEMA zone for that exact spot.
Questions Florida buyers ask about flood zones A, AH and AO
What is flood zone A?
Zone A is high-risk land on FEMA's flood map. It has at least a 1 percent chance of flooding in any year, and FEMA has not set a base flood elevation for it.
What is flood zone AH?
Zone AH is high-risk land where water ponds, usually 1 to 3 feet deep. FEMA has set a base flood elevation for it.
Does flood zone AH require flood insurance?
Yes, if the loan comes from a federally regulated or insured lender or is federally backed. Zone AH is in the high-risk area, so the lender must require flood insurance. The same is true in Zone A and Zone AO.
What is flood zone AO?
Zone AO is high-risk land where water runs across the ground in a shallow sheet or ponds, usually 1 to 3 feet deep. The map shows a depth number instead of a base flood elevation.
What is the difference between Zone A and AE?
Both are high-risk and the lender rule is the same. In Zone AE, FEMA has set a flood height. In Zone A, it has not.
How much is flood insurance in zone A, AH or AO?
There is no single price for these zones. Under Risk Rating 2.0, the NFIP price comes from the home: first floor height, rebuild cost, distance to water and how often the spot floods.
Sources and dates
- FEMA, Flood Zones (Special Flood Hazard Area; the 1 percent annual chance flood; Zones A, AO, AH, A99 and AR). Read October 26, 2026. https://www.fema.gov/flood-zones
- FEMA, NFIP Study Guide, Unit 3 (Zone A, Zone AH "BFEs are provided," Zone AO "sheet flow, ponding, or shallow flooding," Zones A99 and AR). Read October 26, 2026. https://www.fema.gov/pdf/floodplain/nfip_sg_unit_3.pdf
- FloodSmart, Flood insurance definitions (Zone AO depths of 1 to 3 feet). Read October 26, 2026. https://www.floodsmart.gov/definitions
- FEMA, How to read a Flood Insurance Rate Map tutorial, January 2022 (high-risk zones beginning with A or V; the BFE). Read October 26, 2026. https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/how-to-read-flood-insurance-rate-map-tutorial.pdf
- FEMA Flood Insurance Studies, Volume 1, "Flood Zone Designations by Community," for each county in the table above (study number and date in the table), from the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Read November 4, 2026. https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, county flood map data (flood zone areas on the map in force), for each county marked county-wide in the table above, from the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Read November 4, 2026. https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home
- 42 U.S.C. 4012a, flood insurance purchase requirement. govinfo.gov, read October 26, 2026. https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/42/4012a
- 12 CFR Part 22, Loans in Areas Having Special Flood Hazards. eCFR, read October 26, 2026. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-I/part-22
- FEMA, Understanding Risk Rating 2.0 fact sheet, July 2025 (rating factors). Read October 26, 2026. https://agents.floodsmart.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2025-08/fema-understanding-risk-rating-2.0-fact-sheet-2025.pdf
- FloodSmart, Elevation certificates (not needed to buy a policy; may lower the price; prepared by a land surveyor, engineer or architect). Read October 26, 2026. https://www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/elevation-certificates
- Section 689.302, Florida Statutes, flood disclosure in the sale of real property (as amended by chapter 2025-166). Read October 26, 2026. https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699%2F0689%2FSections%2F0689.302.html
Facts last checked November 4, 2026. Every figure comes from the federal or state source listed above.