The average cost of flood insurance in California is $901 per year through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the federal government program that provides most flood insurance policies in the U.S.
Looking at the 50 California cities with the most NFIP policyholders, the average cost of flood insurance is as high as $1,833 in San Rafael, a city that sees frequent flooding given its location on the San Francisco Bay; and as low as $458 per year in Elk Grove, a city with relatively minor flood risk, according to Risk Factor.
Here’s a look at the average cost of flood insurance in California cities with at least one active FEMA flood insurance policy.
Methodology and why you can trust our rates
Policygenius has analyzed home insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services in March 2022 for ZIP codes in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., for a 40-year-old female homeowner with no claim history, good credit, a $1,000 deductible, and the following coverage limits:
Dwelling: $300,000
Other structures: $30,000
Personal property: $150,000
Loss of use: $60,000
Liability: $300,000
Medical: $1,000
All rates based on the above coverage limits except where otherwise noted.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
Your flood insurance costs are generally calculated based on the following factors:
Your home’s location
Your home’s age, size, and construction type
Your home’s elevation
Your policy deductible amount
The amount of coverage in your policy
In addition to the above factors, the amount you pay for flood insurance will also depend on how your flood insurance provider calculates your rates.
10 cheapest cities in California for flood insurance
Of the 50 California cities and towns with the most NFIP policyholders, these areas have the cheapest average flood insurance premiums in the state, according to our analysis.
City | Average annual cost |
|---|---|
Elk Grove | $458 |
$461 | |
West Sacramento | $472 |
Yuba City | $526 |
Alameda | $540 |
Marysville | $541 |
Merced | $550 |
Santa Paula | $576 |
Arvin | $584 |
Stockton | $638 |
10 most expensive cities in California for flood insurance
These cities and towns have the most expensive average flood insurance premiums in California, according to our analysis.
City | Average annual cost |
|---|---|
Malibu | $3,533 |
San Rafael | $1,833 |
Garden Grove | $1,806 |
Santa Ana | $1,473 |
San Mateo | $1,426 |
Menlo Park | $1,412 |
Watsonville | $1,389 |
Napa | $1,374 |
Long Beach | $1,329 |
Palo Alto | $1,261 |
Flood insurance rates by flood zone in California
Flood insurance rates in California will generally vary depending on where you live and whether or not your house is in a FEMA flood zone, which it determines based on the likelihood of flooding over a period of time. Any A or V zone, for example, has at least a 1% chance of flooding during any given year. Also referred to as a 100-year flood plain, these areas have the highest flood risk, according to FEMA flood maps.
Here are the average flood insurance rates in areas with a high risk, moderate to low risk, and undetermined risk, according to an analysis of NFIP premium data.
Flood zone | Average annual cost |
|---|---|
High risk (A or V) | $1,161 |
Moderate to low risk (B, C, or X) | $622 |
Undetermined risk (D) | $1,121 |
Our team of licensed insurance agents at Policygenius can help you compare policies and find the best option for you.
How do FEMA and the NFIP set flood insurance rates?
FEMA recently implemented the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) pricing approach. Effective April 1, 2023, this approach uses industry best practices and cutting-edge technology to set flood insurance rates so they more appropriately reflect a property’s flood risk.
Most of these changes are designed to create a more equitable division of premiums across all policyholders. Here are some examples of the changes they made to improve flood insurance pricing:
NFIP’s pricing approach allows FEMA to set fairer rates and uses up-to-date actuarial principles based upon new technology.
FEMA is addressing rating disparities by using a wider variety of flood risk variables, including flood frequency, distance to a water source, elevation, cost to rebuild, and what type of flood you are likely to experience, including river overflow, storm surge, coastal erosion and heavy rainfall.
Some of the previous considerations for FEMA’s flood insurance rate stayed the same, like those listed below:
Most flood insurance rates cannot not increase more than 18% per year.
Discounts are still available for pre-FIRM subsidized and newly mapped properties.
Policyholders are allowed to transfer their discount by assigning their flood insurance policy to the new owner when selling their home.
Communities can continue earning National Flood Insurance Program rate discounts of 5% - 45% based on the Community Rating System classification.
