Everything You Need to Know About Flood Insurance in Arizona

Homeowners who have a federally-backed mortgage and live in FEMA-designated high-risk flood zones are required to have flood insurance.
Written by Payton Ternus
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
background
Your mortgage lender may require you to buy a separate flood insurance policy if you live within a FEMA-designated high-risk flooding zone in
Arizona
. 
Basic homeowners insurance policies will not cover damages resulting from flooding. Around 90% of natural disasters in the U.S. involve flooding, which generally affects multiple properties at the same time, making it too big of a threat to be covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy. 
The
Insurance Information Institute (III)
conducted a study in 2020 that found only 27% of homeowners in the U.S. have flood insurance. Unfortunately, many people either think they don’t need it or that their home insurance covers flooding—and only find out otherwise when it’s too late.
Weather patterns are becoming more erratic and severe, so it’s more important than ever to understand your state’s requirements on flood insurance. Home and
car insurance
super app
Jerry
put together this guide to flood insurance in Arizona, where 13% of all properties are at risk for flooding.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Find insurance savings

What is flood insurance?

Flood insurance is a kind of insurance specially designed to cover financial losses stemming from water damage caused by flooding.
Your standard homeowners insurance policy will not cover your belongings or home structure if they are damaged in a flood. Water damage caused by certain perils, like plumbing failures, is covered, but flood damage is not. This is why purchasing a separate flood insurance policy is so important!

What does flood insurance cover?

Flood insurance is divided into two sections: contents coverage, which covers your personal belongings, and building coverage, which covers the structure of the home itself. 
Combined, these two coverages financially protect jewelry, furniture, electronics, electric and heating systems, carpet, appliances, and more. 
Remember: flood insurance doesn’t cover every item in your homeor every kind of flooding there is. Sewer backups that were not a result of large-scale flooding (meaning two or more acres or multiple properties), personal property stored in basements, money, cars, or additional living expenses will not be covered by flood insurance. 
Take a look at this chart for a more in-depth breakdown of what is and isn’t covered by the different kinds of insurance:
Type of coverage
What it covers
What it doesn’t cover
Building
Electrical and plumbing systems Water heaters and furnaces Large appliances like dishwashers or refrigerators Permanently installed bookcases, cabinets, and paneling Permanently installed carpets Window blinds Foundational walls, staircases, and anchorages Detached garages Fuel tanks, solar panels, and well water tanks/pumps
Decks and patios Swimming pools Fences and landscaping
Contents
Clothing Furniture Electronic equipment Curtains Washing machine and dryer Portable air conditioners, including window units Carpets not included in building coverage Valuables such as artwork up to $2,500
Valuable papers Currency Anything stored in a basement

Do you need flood insurance in Arizona?

If you want the shortest answer possible: perhaps
There isn’t a law on the federal or state level that requires homeowners to have a flood insurance policy. However, if you want to get a federally-backed mortgage on a home located in a high-risk flooding zone, you’ll be required to purchase flood insurance.
Your mortgage lender will most likely require you to have a flood insurance policy if you live in an area at moderate-to-high risk for flooding. 
The
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
, which is overseen by FEMA, offers flood insurance based on risk level to homeowners. The NFIP manages flood insurance for homeowners, but the actual policies come from private insurance companies like
Farmers
Insurance.
A mandate from your mortgage lender isn’t necessary to buy flood insurance—you do not even have to be in a FEMA-designated high-risk flooding zone. Anyone can buy a flood insurance policy if they choose to, and it’s especially a good idea if you’re in one of the 62,351 properties in
Phoenix
alone at risk for flooding.
Homeowners outside of FEMA’s designated high-risk flooding zones file over 40% of NFIP claims.
If you want to buy a flood insurance policy backed by the NFIP, you have to live in one of Arizona’s participating communities (check with this
list
from FEMA). You can still buy flood insurance if your city or town isn’t on FEMA’s list—you’ll just need to go through a private insurance company instead.

What flood zones require flood insurance in Arizona?

Arizona follows the guidelines of the NFIP. You can determine your home’s risk level on their website, and if you’re in a high enough risk zone your mortgage lender will require you to have flood insurance. Typically, this includes flood zones starting with an A or V.
You can use FEMA’s handy
Flood Map Service Center
or
Flood Factor®
tools to determine your home’s flood risk level. 
Key Takeaway You will be required to buy flood insurance if you live in a FEMA-designated high-risk zone and have a federally-backed mortgage.

How much does flood insurance cost in Arizona?

The U.S. national average price of flood insurance is $739 per year, and Arizona’s average price falls just shy of that mark at $720 per year
In October 2021, the NFIP decided to implement a new methodology for pricing flood insurance called Risk Rating 2.0. Around 23% of flood insurance premiums across the country will decrease as of April 2022, but 68% of Arizona policies are expected to rise to $10 per month
The precise cost of your flood insurance premium will depend on a few things: size and building type, location, age of the property, and more. Residential flood insurance customers have coverage limits of $100,000 for contents coverage and $250,000 for building coverage. Your insurance company might also set a deductible limit. 
MORE: How to prevent a flooded basement

How to save money on flood and auto insurance in Arizona

Want to lower the price of flood insurance in Arizona? Try these options:
Keep in mind that your flood insurance will not cover any damage to a vehicle. To make sure your car is covered during a flood, download the
Jerry
app today. After you enter your information, Jerry compares affordable quotes from over 50 top-rated insurance companies in 45 seconds to find you the best deals.
Jerry users save an average of $887 per year on
car insurance
premiums—which is more than the average yearly cost of flood insurance in Arizona!
Jerry
got me insured through Allstate with $100 of savings each month compared to my previous insurance. The customer service was excellent, and they even detected an error my previous insurer didn’t!” —Warren H.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
avatar
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
rating primary
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
Save an average of 18% by bundling your home and auto insurance
Bundle your home and auto insurance with Jerry and save!
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings