Taxes & Insurance
Do I need flood insurance and how do I get it?
Updated Jul 1, 2026
The short answer
Flood damage is generally not covered by standard homeowners insurance, so it requires a separate policy — often through the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer. If your home is in a high-risk flood zone and you have a federally backed mortgage, coverage is typically mandatory. Even outside high-risk zones, flooding can occur, so coverage can be worth considering.
Key points
- Standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage.
- The NFIP and private insurers offer flood coverage.
- Required for federally backed loans in high-risk zones.
- Flooding can happen outside mapped high-risk areas too.
Check the flood map
Your flood zone affects both whether coverage is required and what it costs. Confirm a property’s flood risk during your due diligence, since it is a recurring cost of ownership.
Sources
Every claim above traces to a public government source.
- ViewT1National Flood Insurance Program — flood insurance basics
FEMA / FloodSmart · Government / primary · 2024