Check YOUR Exact Address in San Jose
San Jose, CA Flood Zone Map
Is San Jose in a flood zone? Yes -- about 4% of its mapped area is in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (Special Flood Hazard Area). FEMA NFHL data shows the mapped zone breakdown below. FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records 7,522 claims in California since 2016; 31% of all recorded California claims are outside high-risk zones (claims data fetched 2026-10-06).
Sources: FEMA NFHL; US Census TIGERweb; FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3.
Data as of Oct 6, 2026 (FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP claims)
Published by checkmyfloodzone.com. Last updated: .
- High risk
- Moderate
- Lower risk
- Not mapped
Flood Zone Breakdown for San Jose
About 4% of the mapped area in San Jose falls within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (high-risk or moderate-risk flood zone). The breakdown by zone:
- AE 2% Zone AE
- A 1% Zone A
- AO 0% Zone AO
- VE 0% Zone VE
- AH 0% Zone AH
- D 65% Zone D
- X 31% Zone X
- OPEN WATER 0% Zone OPEN WATER
Mapped Waterways Near San Jose
FEMA NFHL mapped zones: A, AE, AH, AO, D, OPEN WATER, VE, X; US Census TIGERweb water features: Arroyo Aguague, Guadalupe Riv, Dry Crk.. The FEMA NFHL fixture maps zones A, AE, AH, AO, D, OPEN WATER, VE, X within the San Jose, California area. US Census TIGERweb maps Arroyo Aguague, Guadalupe Riv, Dry Crk in the same extent. These layers describe area-wide patterns; check an exact address for a property-level flood-zone result.
- Arroyo Aguague
- Guadalupe Riv
- Dry Crk
- Los Gatos Crk
- Aguague Crk
- Zayante Crk
- Berryessa Crk
- Guadalupe Slough
Flood Zone Details for San Jose
| Zone | Risk level | Area | Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| AE | High-risk riverine or coastal flood zone with a computed base flood elevation (BFE). About a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year. | 2% | Flood insurance is typically required for federally backed mortgages. |
| A | High-risk flood zone without a detailed BFE study. About a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year. | 1% | Flood insurance is typically required for federally backed mortgages. |
| AO | High-risk shallow flooding zone, typically sheet flow over sloping land. Depths are 1 to 3 feet above ground. | 0% | Flood insurance is typically required for federally backed mortgages. |
| VE | Coastal high-hazard zone with wave action. This is the highest-risk designation -- expect storm surge plus breaking waves. | 0% | Flood insurance is required for federally backed mortgages and is especially important here. |
| AH | High-risk shallow ponding zone with a flood depth of 1 to 3 feet and a defined BFE. | 0% | Flood insurance is typically required for federally backed mortgages. |
| D | Unstudied area where flood hazard has not been determined. Flood risk is unknown. | 65% | FEMA has not determined the flood hazard for this area. Ask your lender about insurance requirements. |
| X | Lower-risk zone outside the 1% annual chance flood boundary. Flooding is still possible but less likely than in high-risk zones. | 31% | Flood insurance is not required but may still be a smart choice -- nearly one-third of flood claims (29% over 2014-2024) come from lower-risk areas. |
| OPEN WATER | Flood zone as mapped by FEMA. | 0% | Consult your lender and local floodplain office. |