Flood Zone Map

Understand FEMA flood zones for every Pinellas beach community. Know what zone a property is in before you make an offer — it directly affects your insurance cost.

Live FEMA Flood Map

Use the official FEMA Flood Map Service Center to look up any specific address. Zoom into the Pinellas barrier islands to see zone boundaries at the parcel level.

Source: FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Data is updated periodically — always verify with a current elevation certificate.

Open full FEMA map in new tab

Understanding Flood Zones

Zone VE— Coastal High Hazard

Highest risk. Direct wave action expected. Mandatory flood insurance. Common on Gulf-front lots in IRB, Indian Shores, and Madeira Beach.

Flood insurance: Typically $3,000–$8,000+/yr

Zone AE— High Risk Flood Zone

1% annual chance of flooding. Mandatory flood insurance for federally-backed mortgages. Most of the Pinellas barrier islands fall here.

Flood insurance: Typically $1,500–$4,500/yr

Zone AH / AO— Shallow Flooding

Shallow ponding or sheet flow. Less common on the beach communities but found in some inland pockets of Largo and Seminole.

Flood insurance: Typically $800–$2,500/yr

Zone X (Shaded)— Moderate Risk

0.2% annual chance of flooding. Flood insurance not required but strongly recommended. Some elevated condos and newer construction land here.

Flood insurance: Typically $400–$1,200/yr

Zone X (Unshaded)— Minimal Risk

Lowest risk. Outside the 500-year floodplain. Rare on the barrier islands but more common in Seminole, Largo, and Clearwater.

Flood insurance: Optional — often $300–$700/yr

Flood Zones by Community

General zone profiles for the communities I cover. Always verify at the parcel level — zones can vary block by block.

Community	Typical Zones	Notes
Indian Rocks Beach	Mostly AE/VE	Gulf-front lots are VE. Intracoastal side is AE.
Indian Shores	Mostly AE/VE	Narrow barrier island — nearly all flood zone.
Madeira Beach	AE/VE/X	Some elevated newer condos in X zone.
Treasure Island	AE/VE	Gulf-front VE, rest AE. Elevated homes may differ.
St. Pete Beach	AE/VE/X	Pass-a-Grille area mostly AE/VE.
Belleair Beach	AE/VE	Small island — nearly all high-risk zones.
Clearwater Beach	AE/VE/X	Newer high-rise condos often in X (elevated).
Seminole	Mostly X	Inland location — lower flood risk overall.
Largo	X/AE mix	Varies by neighborhood. Check parcel-level.

What to Ask Before You Buy

•Request the current elevation certificate — it determines your exact insurance rate, not just the zone.
•Ask if the home has ever flooded, even if it's in Zone X. Disclosure laws require sellers to disclose known flooding.
•Get a flood insurance quote before making an offer — not after. Rates vary dramatically by elevation and zone.
•Check if the property has an active NFIP policy that can be assumed (grandfathered rates can save thousands).
•For condos, ask whether the HOA carries a master flood policy or if you need your own unit-level policy.
•Newer construction built to post-2010 codes is often elevated above base flood elevation — ask for the BFE.

Have flood zone questions about a specific property?

I walk every buyer through flood zones, elevation certificates, and insurance costs before they make an offer.

Ask Adrienne