Flood insurance in California
Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for California, county by county, from official FEMA records.
Flood claims paid per year
NFIP claims paid in California, 2000–2026
The three costliest years. The worst was 2005, with $91.7 million paid on 2,978 claims.
Insured buildings by flood zone
Zone not reported for 33% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.
Costliest flood events
Named events by NFIP claims paid in California
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 1995 | 7,083 | $109.7 million |
| California Atmospheric River | 2023 | 1,583 | $59.1 million |
| Pineapple Express - Southern | 1998 | 6,093 | $57.7 million |
| Flooding | 1986 | 2,394 | $34.2 million |
| Flooding | 1997 | 1,793 | $33.3 million |
Flood insurance by county
Counties in California with detailed pages, by number of policies. 22 smaller counties are included in the state totals.
| County | Policies | Avg premium | Claims since 1978 | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento County | 48,000 | $682 | 3,864 | $38.7 million |
| Los Angeles County | 12,399 | $1,283 | 9,104 | $72.4 million |
| Santa Clara County | 11,516 | $1,415 | 1,630 | $24.6 million |
| Orange County | 9,443 | $1,021 | 3,839 | $21.2 million |
| San Diego County | 8,552 | $1,301 | 2,442 | $48.0 million |
| Marin County | 6,336 | $2,039 | 3,301 | $54.9 million |
| Alameda County | 4,750 | $1,096 | 568 | $4.6 million |
| San Joaquin County | 4,635 | $911 | 421 | $8.2 million |
| Ventura County | 4,555 | $1,254 | 1,331 | $16.0 million |
| Merced County | 4,505 | $744 | 499 | $14.7 million |
| Tulare County | 4,284 | $852 | 366 | $4.3 million |
| San Mateo County | 4,200 | $1,440 | 1,110 | $20.1 million |
| Riverside County | 3,823 | $1,120 | 1,636 | $21.2 million |
| Santa Barbara County | 3,813 | $1,703 | 1,309 | $31.4 million |
| Sutter County | 3,604 | $567 | 199 | $3.0 million |
| Santa Cruz County | 3,268 | $2,003 | 1,633 | $24.9 million |
| Kern County | 3,250 | $825 | 280 | $1.5 million |
| Contra Costa County | 3,237 | $1,378 | 1,202 | $12.9 million |
| Yolo County | 3,196 | $931 | 340 | $3.3 million |
| Sonoma County | 2,362 | $2,005 | 7,403 | $132.1 million |
| San Bernardino County | 2,359 | $1,329 | 864 | $10.2 million |
| Solano County | 2,264 | $1,259 | 594 | $11.0 million |
| San Luis Obispo County | 1,629 | $1,679 | 613 | $8.6 million |
| Monterey County | 1,600 | $1,627 | 1,492 | $42.4 million |
| Butte County | 1,555 | $818 | 335 | $7.2 million |
| Yuba County | 1,464 | $1,227 | 320 | $8.3 million |
| Napa County | 1,287 | $1,939 | 1,361 | $29.8 million |
| Placer County | 1,268 | $1,046 | 628 | $16.1 million |
| Fresno County | 1,125 | $848 | 278 | $2.2 million |
| Lake County | 1,013 | $1,728 | 1,432 | $14.2 million |
| Stanislaus County | 843 | $803 | 242 | $4.7 million |
| Tehama County | 616 | $1,576 | 428 | $5.6 million |
| Madera County | 604 | $866 | 63 | $699 thousand |
| Shasta County | 577 | $1,318 | 256 | $4.9 million |
| Colusa County | 576 | $698 | 160 | $3.0 million |
Common questions
How much does flood insurance cost in California?
The average NFIP flood insurance policy in California costs about $1,087 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.
How many homes have flood insurance in California?
There are about 172,079 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in California, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.
How often does California flood?
Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in California have filed 53,563 flood claims, with $761.2 million paid out. 7,096 of those claims were in the last 10 years.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.
How long until a new flood policy starts?
NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.
How to get flood insurance
Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.