Enter any address in Santa Cruz, California to see its FEMA flood zone
Santa Cruz has a population of 62,956 residents. Like many communities in California, properties in Santa Cruz may be located in various FEMA flood zones ranging from high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas to low-risk zones.
Use the address lookup above to check the specific flood zone for any property in Santa Cruz. Results come directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL).
Statewide data from OpenFEMA. City-level breakdowns coming soon.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Santa Cruz, California:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Santa Cruz that are in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
The average NFIP premium in California is approximately $832 per year.
Even in low-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended — from 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside high-risk areas. Visit FloodSmart.gov for quotes.