FEMA flood Zone A99
High-risk (SFHA) · Special Flood Hazard Area · annual chance 1% (100-year)
Zone A99 is a high-risk (sfha) FEMA flood-map designation. Areas subject to inundation by the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event that will be protected by a Federal flood protection system where construction has reached specified statutory milestones. No Base Flood Elevations or flood depths are shown. A99 is a Special Flood Hazard Area. Because it is a Special Flood Hazard Area, flood insurance is mandatory for a building with a federally backed mortgage.
Source: FEMA — Flood Zones glossary & FIRM zone definitions. Data as of June 2026.
Zone A99 at a glance
| Attribute | Zone A99 |
|---|---|
| Risk category | High-risk (SFHA) |
| Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)? | Yes — high-risk |
| Flood insurance mandatory (federal mortgage)? | Yes, in the SFHA |
| Annual flood chance | 1% (100-year) |
| Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) shown? | No |
Source: FEMA — Flood Zones glossary & FIRM zone definitions. Data as of June 2026.
What Zone A99 means for your flood insurance
Flood insurance is mandatory for federally backed mortgages, but A99 typically receives more favorable rates because protection is nearly complete.
Under Risk Rating 2.0, FEMA prices each property on its own flood risk — distance to water, flood type, foundation, the height of the lowest floor and rebuild cost — rather than charging one flat rate per zone. So the zone tells you whether insurance is mandatory and roughly how risky the area is, while your actual premium is property-specific. See the cost estimator for a rough figure.
How Zone A99 compares with other flood zones
| Zone | Category | SFHA? | Insurance mandatory? | Annual chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A99 | High-risk (SFHA) | Yes | Yes | 1% (100-year) |
| Zone A | High-risk (SFHA) | Yes | Yes | 1% (100-year) |
| Zone AE | High-risk (SFHA) | Yes | Yes | 1% (100-year) |
| Zone AH | High-risk (SFHA) | Yes | Yes | 1% (100-year) |
| Zone AO | High-risk (SFHA) | Yes | Yes | 1% (100-year) |
| Zone AR | High-risk (SFHA) | Yes | Yes | 1% (temporarily increased) |
| Zone V | High-risk coastal (SFHA) | Yes | Yes | 1% (100-year) + wave action |
Frequently asked questions
What does FEMA flood Zone A99 mean?
Areas subject to inundation by the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event that will be protected by a Federal flood protection system where construction has reached specified statutory milestones. No Base Flood Elevations or flood depths are shown. A99 is a Special Flood Hazard Area.
Is flood insurance required in Zone A99?
Yes. Zone A99 is a high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area, so federal law requires flood insurance for buildings with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender. Flood insurance is mandatory for federally backed mortgages, but A99 typically receives more favorable rates because protection is nearly complete.
Is Zone A99 a high-risk flood zone?
Yes. Zone A99 is a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) with at least a 1% (100-year) chance of flooding. SFHAs are the zones FEMA treats as high-risk for insurance and floodplain-management purposes.
How does Zone A99 affect my flood insurance premium?
Since FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, premiums are based on each property's specific characteristics rather than the zone alone, but the zone still signals risk. Flood insurance is mandatory for federally backed mortgages, but A99 typically receives more favorable rates because protection is nearly complete. Use our calculator for a rough estimate and get a real quote from an NFIP agent.
Keep exploring
Source
Definitions: FEMA — Flood Zones glossary & FIRM zone definitions (US public domain). This is general information, not insurance advice — confirm your property's zone on the official FEMA Flood Map Service Center and verify insurance requirements with your lender or agent. See our disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20