Flood Insurance in Iowa

Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. You should be proactive and protect your property with a flood insurance policy.

Below, we aim to provide you with all the information you need about flood insurance in Iowa so you can get the best coverage possible.

The average cost of flood insurance in Iowa is $1,679 annually under the National Flood Insurance Program’s new rating system. This state average is up from $867 before 2021, a 93% increase. But, not every policyholder’s rate will rise.

The NFIP is the largest flood insurance provider in the country and in Iowa, with over 8,000 active single-family home flood insurance policies in the Hawkeye State. The program was created by the government and is administered by the Federal emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The NFIP changed its rate calculation method in 2021, altering premiums for almost every policyholder. According to the program, their new methodology, called Risk Rating 2.0, more accurately reflects the flood risk of all properties.

The table below shows average Iowa flood insurance costs by county before and after RR 2.0 rate changes.

RR 2.0 rates took effect for all new NFIP policies starting October 1, 2021. Existing policyholders were phased into R 2.0 rates beginning April 1, 2022. If you’re an existing policyholder, realizing your total RR 2.0 premium may take some time because the NFIP capped rate increases at 18% per year.

With RR 2.0 rates in full effect, the cheapest flood insurance in Iowa, on average annually, will be found in the following counties:

In Iowa, 2,987 current NFIP policyholders will see their premiums decrease to some extent under RR 2.0. However, most existing policyholders, over 5,000, will see their premiums increase at least $12 per year until they realize their full RR 2.0 rate. Over 200 policyholders’ premiums will rise at least $120 annually. 

Anyone looking to get flood insurance from the NFIP for the first time won’t have any rate increases since the new rating system has been in effect since 2021.

Flood insurance financially covers the structure and contents of your home from flooding damages. Commonly encountered instances of flooding include mudslides, sudden coastal erosion, and storm surges. Flood insurance also covers flash flooding from rain in some cases.

Plans are usually divided into two sections based on the coverage types provided, building and contents coverage:

Although the NFIP is the largest flood insurer in the nation, it isn’t your only option. Depending on your property value and coverage needs, the best flood insurance in Iowa for your situation may be from a private flood insurance company.

The NFIP is a government offering, which subjects it to strict regulations due to the program’s structure and size. The NFIP is run at a deficit and loses millions every year because it always pays out in claims more than it brings in premiums.

As a result, NFIP single-family policies have maximums of $250,000 in building coverage and $100,000 in contents coverage. This means if your home is worth more than $250,000, you’d be underinsured with an NFIP policy.

Private flood insurance companies in Iowa can offer higher coverage limits and more coverage options than the NFIP.

Private carriers can offer over $1 million in building and contents coverage. Private flood insurers can also provide additional coverage like loss of use and replacement cost contents coverage.

Loss of use coverage covers living expenses you’d incur if you’re forced to move out of your home after it sustains flood damage. Loss of use coverage can reimburse you for lodging, gas, groceries, and more, and NFIP policies never provide loss of use coverage.

Private flood insurance in Iowa can offer other perks, like shorter waiting periods. All NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period between binding and activation, while private plans may have waiting periods half that long or less, depending on the provider.

Unfortunately, private coverage might be more expensive or unavailable in some areas. But, you should get and compare quotes to see if you can get more bang for your buck with a private company instead of the NFIP.

Several variables influence Iowa flood insurance costs. Companies analyze your property intently to evaluate flood risks and determine appropriate premiums.

Factors that affect the cost of flood insurance include:

Your home’s elevation is crucial to premiums. This is because homes at a higher elevation have less of a chance of flooding. Companies will examine your first-floor height and elevation relative to nearby water sources.

Your home’s location is also important. FEMA creates and maintains flood maps for the country and determines areas prone to flooding. Homes in high-risk flood zones, called Special Flood Hazard Areas, have higher premiums than homes in low-risk flood zones.

Certain features, like your foundation design, construction materials, and prior claims history, also play a role in your premiums.

While no law requires flood insurance in Iowa, mortgage lenders require homeowners in high-risk flood zones to get flood insurance as a condition of their loan.

Mortgage lenders invest significant sums into houses. To financially protect their home investments in SFHAs, they’ll require homeowners to keep flood insurance for the life of the loan. This way, if a flood destroys the property, the lender and property owner can receive reimbursement from the flood policy.

Lenders accept NFIP and private flood coverage to satisfy the flood insurance requirement as long as the policy covers the home’s replacement cost or reaches the NFIP maximum if needed.

For help getting flood insurance quotes in Iowa from the NFIP or a private company in your area, get the help of an independent insurance agency. Our team at Clovered would love to help. You can submit our flood insurance quote form in minutes to 

You can also call us at 833-255-4117 during business hours if you’d rather quote over the phone. You can also email us at agent@clovered.com.

Des Moines is the capital and most populous city of Iowa. It lies in Polk County, where the average flood insurance cost is $1,407 annually. This is below the state average of $1,679.

Des Moines participates in the NFIP’s Community Rating System, which provides discounts to cities and towns that actively mitigate against flood risk.

The NFIP classifies CRS communities from 1-10 based on the measures they take to prevent and mitigate flood damage (one being the best). Cities with higher ratings receive discounts on NFIP policies.

Des Moines is a Class 7 community, earning citizens 15% discounts on policies in SFHAs and 5% discounts on premiums in all other areas.