California Flood Insurance: Complete Guide for Homeowners in 2024
Floods are more common in California than you think. Protect your home with flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurance company.
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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One in five Californians — about 7 million people — live in a flood-risk area.[1] California has experienced six flooding events that resulted in more than $1 billion in damages since 1980.[2]
Standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover water damage from floods, so you may want a separate flood insurance policy. Your mortgage company may require you to buy it to protect your property. You should always compare quotes and coverage options from multiple insurers to find the right coverage.
Here’s what you need to know about California flood insurance, including average costs, whether you need it, and how to buy a policy.
Quick Facts
California flood insurance through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has an average annual premium of $901.
Every California county has experienced severe flood damage.[1]
Flooding caused an estimated $4.7 billion in damage in California between December 2022 and March 2023.[2]
Cost of flood insurance in California
The average cost of flood insurance in California is $901 per year, which is only a bit higher than the U.S. average rate of $888. Insurance companies calculate flood insurance premiums by considering factors like the home’s foundation materials, replacement cost value, and proximity to coasts, rivers, and lakes.
Homeowners in the Sierra Nevada region face the highest flood risk in California and pay the most for flood insurance.[3] Sierra County has the most expensive average premium, followed by Lassen and Plumas counties. Sutter, Sacramento, and Merced County homeowners have the cheapest flood insurance premiums.
Compare annual flood insurance costs by county below.
County
Annual Flood Insurance Cost
Sierra County
$2,175
Lassen County
$1,803
Plumas County
$1,735
Napa County
$1,551
Marin County
$1,413
Santa Cruz County
$1,408
Sonoma County
$1,404
Del Norte County
$1,382
Mendocino County
$1,337
Trinity County
$1,314
Tehama County
$1,302
Lake County
$1,286
Amador County
$1,285
Mono County
$1,235
Monterey County
$1,226
Nevada County
$1,223
Imperial County
$1,215
San Benito County
$1,214
Humboldt County
$1,198
Santa Clara County
$1,194
Calaveras County
$1,186
Contra Costa County
$1,166
Siskiyou County
$1,136
Santa Barbara County
$1,120
Solano County
$1,119
San Mateo County
$1,116
El Dorado County
$1,102
Shasta County
$1,083
San Bernardino County
$1,072
Tuolumne County
$1,028
Los Angeles County
$1,012
Other
$1,010
San Luis Obispo County
$989
Ventura County
$974
Madera County
$941
San Diego County
$938
Stanislaus County
$916
Riverside County
$902
Orange County
$892
Alameda County
$887
Modoc County
$871
Yuba County
$858
Placer County
$857
San Joaquin County
$852
Tulare County
$843
Fresno County
$825
Inyo County
$810
Butte County
$796
Kern County
$779
Yolo County
$770
San Francisco County
$757
Glenn County
$752
Kings County
$740
Colusa County
$711
Merced County
$664
Sacramento County
$647
Sutter County
$629
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Do you need flood insurance in California?
California doesn’t require homeowners to buy flood insurance, but your mortgage lender may require you to have it. Coverage requirements depend on your area’s flood risk, but the federal government mandates lenders to require flood coverage for homes in special flood hazard areas.
Approximately 20% of Californians (more than 7 million people) live in areas with a high flood risk.[1] Without flood insurance, you could get stuck with an expensive bill because homeowners insurance doesn’t cover the cost of flood damage.
Important Information
A single inch of water can leave your house with $25,000 in damages.[4] The reality can be much more severe. Following severe flooding in California during December 2022 and January 2023, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) paid out an average of about $53,100 for each of the 489 claims filed.[5]
How to determine your flood risk
FEMA flood maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), show areas with low, moderate, and high risk. Each flood zone has a label of A, V, B, C, or X. High-risk areas, labeled A and V, have a chance of at least one in four of flooding during a 30-year mortgage. Moderate-to-low-risk areas, labeled B, C, and X, still account for more than 20% of NFIP claims.[6]
Standard homeowners policies exclude flood-related damage, but a separate flood insurance policy can protect your California home.
Typical flood coverage includes your home’s structure and your personal belongings, such as:
Electrical and plumbing systems, including furnaces and water heaters
Appliances like refrigerators, cooking stoves, and dishwashers
Permanently installed carpeting, cabinets, paneling, and bookcases
Window blinds and curtains
Detached garages
Clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment
Keep in Mind
Contents coverage for your personal belongings is separate from building coverage. Check with your insurance agent to find out if your policy includes household and personal items or if this coverage is available at an additional cost.[7]
What flood insurance doesn’t cover
Perhaps even more important than knowing what your flood insurance covers is knowing what it doesn’t. Depending on your insurer, your policy might not reimburse you for the following losses:
Hotel or rental costs while you’re waiting for repairs
Damage to your car or its parts
Damage to valuables like cash, stock certificates, and precious metals
Personal belongings stored in your basement
Damage to your lawn or fence
Damage to outdoor structures like decks, septic systems, and sheds
Lost income from business interruptions caused by flooding
How to buy flood insurance in California
If you own a home in the Golden State, you can get California flood insurance through private insurance companies or the NFIP. Most policyholders get NFIP flood coverage, according to a 2023 Triple-I/Munich Re Consumer Survey.[8]
Weighing the pros and cons of each option can help you decide which is best. For example, a policy from the NFIP caps coverage at $250,000 for your home and $100,000 for its contents, while private insurers can offer up to $1 million or more.[9] Higher coverage amounts can make a private policy more attractive, but it also increases the cost of premiums.
To buy a policy, contact the NFIP or check with your current insurance company. Many companies that sell homeowners insurance also offer flood insurance policies. Depending on the insurer, bundling the two coverages together may be cheaper than purchasing each separately.
It’s important to note that NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage kicks in. The longest you’ll have to wait with a private policy is 15 days, while some companies give you protection right away.
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Tips for filing a flood insurance claim in California
If a flood has damaged your home in California, follow these steps to file a flood insurance claim:
Contact your insurance company or the NFIP at 1 (877) 336-2627 as soon as it’s safe to inspect your property.
Document the damage with photos or videos, and don’t throw anything away until your adjuster sees it (unless it’s a health hazard or the law requires you to discard it).
Begin cleaning up and moving items you want to save to a dry space.
List damaged or destroyed personal property, including details and receipts, if your policy covers personal belongings.
Review your claim for errors or missed damages. You have a 60-day window to request additional payment.[10]
The claim timeline varies, but you should hear from your adjuster within a day or two. The time it takes to process your claim depends on the extent of the flooding and the number of affected homes in your area.
California flood insurance FAQs
If you’re still wondering about flood insurance in California, check out the answers to some of the most common questions below for more information.
Does California have flood insurance?
Yes. California property owners can purchase flood insurance through a private insurer or the NFIP. Note that mortgage lenders may require you to buy flood coverage if your property is at an increased risk of flooding.
What is the average cost of flood insurance in California?
The average cost of flood insurance in California is $901 per year. Premiums in the Golden State are slightly higher than the national average rate of $888. How much you pay for coverage will depend on the community you live in. If you live in a high-risk flood zone, you’ll pay more for coverage than people in low-risk areas.
What is the difference between FEMA and NFIP?
FEMA has two primary functions: civil defense and emergency management. It also manages the NFIP, the primary provider of flood insurance policies in the United States.
What percentage of people in California have flood insurance?
Despite the state’s high flood risk, a mere 2% of Californians have flood insurance.[11] This leaves the majority exposed to potentially devastating financial consequences in the event of a flood.
Amy is a personal finance and technology writer. With a background in the legal field and a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, she has a talent for transforming complex topics into content that’s easy to understand. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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