California Flood Insurance Costs & Coverage Requirements

Homeowners and renters insurance policies don't cover flood damage, but you can purchase a flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer. You may find lower rates and higher coverage limits through a private flood insurance company.

How much does flood insurance cost in California?

Average prices vary significantly by location. For instance, the average flood insurance policy in Long Beach is $1,133 per year. That's more than twice as expensive as in Sacramento, where the typical cost is $548.

If you want to get the cheapest flood insurance in California, compare rates from the NFIP against rates from private flood insurance companies. This isn't always an option, as some mortgage lenders require NFIP flood insurance, but a private insurer may be able to provide both cheaper rates and higher coverage limits.

The cost of flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program also depends on your home's elevation, whether you have a basement and how close it is to a river, lake or the coast. For example, a house with a basement will have higher rates than one without. Your rate will also vary depending on the deductibles you choose for building and contents coverage.

NFIP flood insurance policies have deductibles between $1,000 and $10,000, depending on the amount you're willing to pay out of pocket in the event of flood damage. The higher your deductible, the less you'll pay each month for flood insurance coverage.

California flood insurance coverage

NFIP flood insurance policy options are the same at every insurer nationwide. Your policy won’t cover damage to basements or additional living expenses if you have to temporarily relocate. The policy also won't protect your vehicle, as you would need to purchase a comprehensive car insurance policy in order to cover flood damage.

A flood insurance policy covers several risks faced by California homeowners, including:

However, flood insurance typically won't cover earth movements like landslides or sinkholes, even if they're caused by a flood. And California homeowners still need to purchase separate coverage for other earth-movement risks, including earthquakes.

Do you need flood insurance in California?

Flood insurance isn't required for homeowners in California, but it’s typically mandated by mortgage lenders if your house is in a high-risk flood zone. These "special flood hazard areas" are re-evaluated over time, so it's best to check the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood Maps to determine whether your house is considered at high risk of flooding.

A map of California's flood zones shows whether you need flood insurance to obtain a federally-backed mortgage. This is typically the case for zones that start with A or V, which have a 1% chance of flooding per year — which translates to a 26% chance over the course of a 30-year mortgage. If your home is in an area labeled Zone B, X or C, it has less than a 1% annual chance of flooding, and you generally won't be required to purchase flood insurance.

However, even if it's not required, it's typically a good idea to consider flood insurance unless your home is far from any dams or levees and at a higher elevation than most of the surrounding area. If a flood occurs, damage to your property won't be covered by your homeowners insurance, as flooding is typically excluded from these policies. And you're unlikely to receive government assistance unless a federal disaster is declared.

Risks of flooding in California

The majority of California is at risk of flooding, and every county has been declared a flood disaster area at least once. In recent years, heavy rain in northern and central California has caused rivers to flood and damage the surrounding area.

These floods can damage your house and property. While flood insurance won't cover all issues and has limits, you may easily have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses yourself if you have no coverage in place.

Only 1% of California homes have a flood policy, even in counties like San Francisco and Los Angeles, despite the high risk of storms and floods across the state.

Mariposa County has the lowest percent of homes with flood insurance policies, likely because it's located further inland and has a lower-than-average risk of flooding compared to the rest of the state. Sutter County, which has a high risk of flooding from winter storms and nearby dams, has the highest percent of homes with flood insurance policies.