How do I check whether land is in a FEMA flood zone?

Use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov, the official public source for National Flood Insurance Program flood maps. Enter the address, place name or coordinates to see the current Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and download map panels. High-risk areas, called Special Flood Hazard Areas, appear as shaded zones beginning with A or V. Rural parcels may lack a street address, so you can search by coordinates or pan the map. Maps can be outdated or not fully studied, so also ask the county or city whether any local floodplain permit or elevation requirement applies to the parcel.

Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.

Sources

• FEMA Flood Map Service CenterFederal Emergency Management Agency
• How to Read a Flood Insurance Rate MapFederal Emergency Management Agency