Flood Insurance in Virginia

Hurricanes, nor’easters, and even typical thunderstorms can cause flooding throughout Virginia. Properties near the Atlantic Coast have even greater chances of flooding due to the risk of coastal erosion and direct hurricane impact.

Rushing waters from these events can be catastrophic and are normally excluded from homeowners insurance coverage. You need a separate flood insurance policy for financial protection from floods, the nation’s most common natural disaster.

Virginia estimates that only 3% of residents have flood insurance. Use this guide to help find a policy today.

The average cost of flood insurance in Virginia is $1,077 annually under the National Flood Insurance Program, up from $743 before 2021. Although the NFIP’s Risk Rating 2.0 raised rates statewide by 44% on average, Virginia remains among the cheapest states for flood insurance in the country.

The NFIP is the largest flood insurer in the country, but it’s not a typical insurance company. The NFIP is a government program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

The NFIP has over five million policies nationwide. Starting in 2021, the program recalculated how it calculates premiums to reflect the flooding risks of covered properties better. Unfortunately, floods are very common and getting more costly to cover, which resulted in average flood premiums increasing nationwide.

The table below shows flood insurance rates in Virginia by county before and after RR 2.0 premiums take effect.

RR 2.0 rates became effective for all new NFIP policies starting October 1, 2021. Existing policyholders have been experiencing RR 2.0 rates gradually since April 1, 2022. Since most people are seeing their premiums rise, FEMA capped rate increases at 18% per year. So, depending on the increase size, it might take some time for current policyholders to realize their new RR 2.0 premium fully.

The cheapest flood insurance in Virginia per year under RR 2.0 can be found in:

The average cost of flood insurance increased in every county under RR 2.0. But, that doesn’t mean some people won’t see their premiums drop. Over 32,000 single-family house flood policyholders will see premiums decrease. Over 4,900 people’s rates will lower by over $100 every month. There are only five states with cheaper average flood insurance than Virginia.

Yet, over 47,000 people will see their premiums go up in the state. The cost of flood insurance in Virginia is influenced by many factors that we’ll break down later.

Flood insurance in Virginia is designed to provide financial protection against damage caused by flooding events. Common flooding events include storm surges, coastal erosion, mudslides, and flash floods from heavy rain.

If floodwaters from these instances damage your home, your insurer can reimburse you for the damage. The coverage flood insurance policies provide are often broadly categorized into building and contents coverage.

You should note that the NFIP limits building coverage in basements. Because basements are especially prone to flood damage due to their location underground at the bottom of your home, where water would flow in all flooding scenarios, NFIP policies limit their basement coverage to major equipment only, such as large appliances and plumbing systems.

Personal belongings and other improvements to a basement, from furniture to flooring, are usually not covered under standard NFIP plans.

We recommend checking plans from private flood insurance companies in addition to the NFIP when looking for the best flood insurance in Virginia. Private carriers can offer higher coverage limits, although their rates may not always be competitive.

The NFIP can’t afford to provide full coverage to all policyholders. The program isn’t designed to run like a standard company. With the goal of providing coverage to as many people as possible ad not making a profit, the program is run at a loss annually and has racked up hundreds of millions in debt.

As a result, NFIP policies have fixed limits of $250,000 for building coverage and $100,000 for contents coverage for all single-family homes, leaving houses valued over $250,000 inadequately insured.

Private flood insurance companies have the potential to offer higher policy limits and more extensive coverage options compared to NFIP policies, though their availability and affordability might not be consistent throughout the state.

Private insurers have greater flexibility since they can control their risk exposure and decide which properties they can afford to cover. This flexibility often translates to higher building limits. Depending on the carrier, private flood insurance policies can offer building limits of $1 million or more, and contents coverage of well over $100,000. They can also supply additional coverages and more policy add-ons if needed.

It can’t hurt to shop around from private flood companies in your area to see who has the best rates and coverage options. You might find a good deal with better protection.

Flood insurance from the NFIP in Virginia is rising from $743 on average to $1,077 annually. Many factors will affect your rates and determine how much you pay. The NFIP and private flood insurers assess many aspects of your property to determine your flood risk, and properties with higher flood risk have higher premiums.

Some of the most important factors influencing the cost of flood insurance in Virginia include your location, home features, and policy details.

Location. FEMA determines flood risk for locations around the country and categorizes areas based on susceptibility and likelihood. Homes in federally designated high-risk flood zones have higher premiums. 

Additionally, companies will look at your property’s elevation. Homes built off the ground or higher above sea level or nearby possible flooding levels have smaller chances of flooding and lower premiums. The risk of storm surge at coastal properties is a significant factor. According to FEMA, the Virginia counties with the most policyholders at risk of storm surge damage are:

Virginia also has several independent cities not in counties that have significant flooding risk from storm surges, such as Hampton, Poquoson, Richmond, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake. 

Home features. The way your home was built also influences rates. Older properties are often more expensive to insure because they can lack the flood-resistant measures and materials that newer homes contain. Larger, more expensive homes with high-end features will cost more to cover than smaller, simple homes.

While flood insurance isn’t mandated by law in Virginia, mortgage lenders can require homeowners in certain areas to carry flood insurance as part of the loan agreement.

Mortgage lenders want to make sure their investment is protected in some way when they put money down on a house. They don’t want to risk losing it all in a catastrophe. 

Since homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, lenders require property owners in SFHAs (high-risk FEMA flood zones) to carry flood insurance for the life of the loan.

Lenders accept private and NFIP flood policies as long as the plan’s building limits meet the home’s value. If this exceeds $250,000, the maximum NFIP limit is acceptable. 

It’s wise for all homeowners to consider flood insurance in Virginia Beach, and people in low or moderate-risk flood zones may have notably lower premiums, making flood insurance a cost-effective investment.

Some people try to purchase flood insurance when they find out a hurricane or tropical storm is on the way so they have protection. You should know that NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period from when you buy to when coverage becomes active. Some private companies may have shorter waiting periods, but they may also temporarily stop writing new policies in the run-up to a storm.

So, you should be proactive and get flood insurance in Virginia well ahead of when you think you might need it. You shouldn’t rely on FEMA disaster assistance after a flood, either. Many forms of FEMA aid take time to distribute, and you have to pay back loans and grants they give in many cases. Flood insurance is a more straightforward and comprehensive protection plan.

You should compare quotes from private companies and the NFIP when getting flood insurance quotes in Virginia. Plans from private companies can have different rates and coverage options, so you should compare several to see which company has the best deal.

Our team at Clovered can help you get flood insurance quotes in Virginia. As an independent insurance agency, we partner with some of the top flood insurance companies in Virginia. You can compare rates from providers in your area online by filling out our flood insurance quote form. 

It takes only a few minutes to fill out with some information about yourself and your property, and our agents will respond as soon as possible with your coverage options.

If you’d rather quote with a licensed agent over the phone, call us at 833-255-4117 during business hours. You can also send us an email at [email protected] requesting more information.

Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic. Flood insurance rates in Virginia Beach are about $947 annually under the NFIP, over $100 below the state average of $1,077 per year.

The program reports that nearly 97% of policyholders in Virginia Beach are at risk of damage from storm surges, and over 17% are at risk of coastal erosion flood damage. This is caused by the city’s location on the Atlantic coast, with many waterfront and waterfront-adjacent properties. 

Yet, the city’s average flood insurance rates are relatively affordable. The comparatively reasonable rates are partly due to Virginia Beach’s efforts under the NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is FEMA’s way to encourage cities that actively protect against flood damage. 

Cities can get discounted flood insurance premiums by implementing floodplain management practices, conserving green spaces, and taking other measures to limit potential flood damage to homes and businesses.

The CRS gauges on a one-to-ten scale, with one representing the best efforts and largest possible discounts. Virginia Beach’s floodplain management efforts have earned the city a Class 7 rating, which qualifies policyholders in high-risk flood zones (SFHAs) for a 15% premium discount. Residents in low or moderate-risk zones can receive a 5% annual premium discount on NFIP policies.