Know Your Floodzone
NEW Preliminary Coastal Flood Maps
Coastal Flood Maps, otherwise known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are used to determine the minimum elevation needed for construction to reduce the chances of flooding, as well as construction methods required in certain zones.
In 2019, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released new PRELIMINARY coastal flood maps. These maps may eventually replace the current flood maps which are based on 30-plus-year-old studies.
While FEMA has emphasized that these are only PRELIMINARY maps, the City of Boca Raton wants to ensure all residents and business owners are aware of the potential for a change in flood risk for their property so that they can be more proactive in reducing their flood risk.
View Preliminary Coastal Maps
- FEMA FIRM PRELIMINARY Mapping tool (NOTE: Use in Chrome Browser for optimum user experience). Click in the FIRM Panel section where the property is located to view the popup containing a link to the Draft Map (PDF) or search by property address in the top left-hand corner.
- FEMA PRELIMINARY Map Service Center - Select State (FL), County (Palm Beach County) to get to web page listing various area maps. (NOTE: Maps on the site are very large and may take several minutes to open/download).
Do You Live In A Flood Zone?
A large portion of the City of Boca Raton lies in the special flood hazard area as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. To obtain information about flood zone designations, flood zone designations, flood protection, and flood mitigation, please contact the Zoning Office at 561-544-8530. The City also maintains copies of elevation certificates for new or substantially improved structures that are in special flood hazard areas.
In addition, call the City's Floodplain Manager, at 561-393-7845 to find out:
- If a building is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or not.
- If the property is in an area that has drainage problems.
- If the property is in an area that has had flood insurance claims filed repeatedly.
- If the building is near an area that should be protected due to its natural floodplain functions.
- If an Elevation Certificate is on file for your building.
- To learn how to access the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for the City.
*If requested, the Development Services Department will visit a property to review its flood problem and explain possible ways to stop flooding or prevent flood damage. Call the numbers above to arrange for this service.
View the City of Boca Raton’s Flood Info Map.
Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)
If you believe your property was incorrectly included in a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) identified Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), you may submit an application to FEMA for a formal determination of the property’s location and/or elevation relative to the SFHA. The SFHA is the area that has a 1-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year; this area is also referred to by some as the 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain, base floodplain or the 100-year floodplain.
After FEMA reviews the map change request, it will issue a Determination Document, either approving or denying the map change. If FEMA grants the map amendment or revision request, the property owner may no longer be required to pay flood insurance. The property owner may send the Determination Document to their lender and request that the federal flood insurance requirement for the structure be removed.
For more information and to apply, visit FEMA.