What's my flood zone letter?
Last reviewed 2026-10-21
FEMA labels areas on its flood maps with letters. Pick the letter you saw to read what FEMA says it means. This explains map labels only. It doesn't tell you anything about one home. Don't know your letter? Look up your address on our home page.
This explains FEMA map labels only. It is not an official FEMA flood zone determination or an elevation certificate. Check the official map at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov).
Zone AE
a high-risk area subject to the 1-percent-annual-chance ("100-year") flood, where base flood elevations have been determined
FEMA maps this as part of the Special Flood Hazard Area (high-risk area).
AE areas have a published base flood elevation. That's the height FEMA calculates floodwater would rise to in the 1-percent-annual-chance flood. You can find it on the FEMA map at msc.fema.gov. FEMA's FloodSmart site says that in communities in the National Flood Insurance Program, homeowners with federally backed mortgages in high-risk zones must buy flood insurance. Your lender decides what applies to your loan. This isn't an official flood zone determination.
Flood insurance information: FEMA's FloodSmart.gov, "What are Flood Zones and Maps?" (floodsmart.gov/flood-zones-and-maps/what-is-my-flood-zone), last reviewed 2026-10-21.
All zone letters
- A
- a high-risk area subject to the 1-percent-annual-chance flood, where no base flood elevations have been determined
- AE
- a high-risk area subject to the 1-percent-annual-chance ("100-year") flood, where base flood elevations have been determined
- AH
- a high-risk area subject to shallow flooding (usually ponding) of 1 to 3 feet
- AO
- a high-risk area subject to shallow flooding (usually sheet flow on sloping terrain) of 1 to 3 feet
- AR
- a high-risk area that is temporarily mapped as such because a flood-control system is being restored
- A99
- a high-risk area that will be protected by a federal flood-control system under construction
- V and VE
- a high-risk coastal area subject to the 1-percent-annual-chance flood plus storm-driven waves
- X (shaded) or B
- an area of moderate flood hazard (the 0.2-percent-annual-chance, or "500-year", floodplain)
- X (unshaded) or C
- an area of minimal flood hazard
- D
- an area where flood hazards are possible but have not been determined
Source: FEMA, "Flood Zones" glossary (fema.gov/about/glossary/flood-zones), last reviewed 2026-10-21.