Flood Zones

What is a flood zone?

A flood zone is an area designated on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that is provided to the City of Norfolk by FEMA. This map shows the risks that properties have of being impacted by flooding.

The FIRM and the associated development requirements are implemented by City of Norfolk Zoning Ordinance in Article 3.9.7 along with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Am I in a flood zone?

Norfolk has a public website, Forerunner, for community members to access the flood risk data for individual properties. This site makes it easy for homeowners, contractors, insurance agents, realtors and more to learn about the flood-related risk for a property. Click the icon below to search Norfolk properties. forerunner search

Forerunner is a great source to:

  • identify flood zones and view flood data
  • search for a property's flood risk
  • find existing elevation certificates
  • request assistance from Norfolk's Floodplain team

You can also view more Norfolk flood information on NorfolkAir or the FEMA Map Service Center. 


What are the different categories of flood zones?


The City of Norfolk has multiple flood zones shown on our maps. These zones were scientifically determined using a study that predicts where water will go during major flooding events (defined as one percent (1%) annual chance of flooding).


Scroll, using the side buttons or numbers below, to review how these flood zones are defined!

X- Zone

  • Areas that are outside the 0.2% annual chance of flooding. This zone is the least likely to flood.

X- Shaded Zone

  • 0.2% annual chance of flood

  • Areas that have a 0.2% annual chance of flooding and may see flooding if the flood event is abnormally large. Areas are subject to flooding depths less than 1 foot during a 1% chance flood.

AE Zone

  • Areas subject to a 1% annual chance flooding event with water elevation levels determined (Base Flood Elevation). This area is most likely to flood during a flood event.

AH Zone

  • Areas subject to a 1% annual chance flooding event caused by ponding water. Elevations determined by FEMA.

AO Zone

  • Areas subject to a 1% annual chance flooding with flood depths between 1 to 3 feet. Usually occurs due to sloping terrain.

VE Zone

  • Velocity zone. Area subject to wave heights 3 feet or more and extending to the inward limit of the Coastal Primary Sand Dune.

LiMWA

  • Limits of Moderate Wave Action: Area affected by waves heights between 1.5 and 3 feet.

More information from other departments about flooding: