Check If YOUR Address Is in Zone X500
The only way to know your exact zone is to check your specific address against FEMA's official maps -- free and instant below.
Data as of Nov 1, 2026 (FEMA NFHL, FEMA Community Status Book, FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP claims)
Flood Zone X500: What It Means
Is Zone X500 safe, and do you need flood insurance? Zone X500 is a legacy label associated with shaded Zone X on newer maps. FEMA's map places this point outside the high-risk area (Zone X500). The map triggers no federal insurance requirement here; your lender may still require it. Risk is reduced, not removed.
- FEMA: Moderate and Minimal Flood Hazard Areas -- checked 2026-11-08
- FEMA FloodSmart: What Is My Flood Risk? -- checked 2026-11-08
What is Flood Zone X500?
FEMA calls the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood the 500-year flood. Shaded Zone X is the area between the base flood limit and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood limit. On this page, X500 is a legacy search label for that shaded Zone X area; check the map legend for the designation used at a specific property.
Risk Level: Moderate risk
FEMA calls the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood the 500-year flood. Shaded Zone X lies between the base flood limit and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood limit. This page uses X500 as a legacy search label for that shaded Zone X area. Flooding remains possible outside mapped high-risk areas.
X500 and shaded Zone X
FEMA calls the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood the 500-year flood. FEMA describes shaded Zone X as the area between the base flood limit and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood limit. On this page, X500 is a legacy search label for that shaded Zone X area; the current map legend for your location identifies the designation in use.
Check the current map
This page is informational and is not a FEMA Form 086-0-32 Standard Flood Hazard Determination. Use the address lookup above to check the mapped zone for a specific location.
Flood Insurance in Zone X500
Flood insurance is not federally required in Zone X500 -- it sits outside the Special Flood Hazard Area, so federally backed lenders are not required to mandate a policy.
That said, flooding can still occur in Zone X500. Standard homeowner's insurance does not cover flood damage. Voluntary flood insurance may be available in NFIP-participating communities.
Schematic: Zone X500 Cross-Section
This diagram shows how Zone X500 relates to flood elevation and the landscape.
Compare: Zone X500 vs. Related Zones
- B Moderate risk Zone B is an older flood map designation for a moderate-risk area now generally shown as shaded Zone X.
- C Lower risk Zone C is an older flood map designation for minimal-risk areas now generally shown as unshaded Zone X.
- X Lower risk A low-risk flood zone outside the Special Flood Hazard Area. The map triggers no federal insurance requirement here, but lenders may still require coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions about Zone X500
- What is Flood Zone X500?
- FEMA calls the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood the 500-year flood. Shaded Zone X is the area between the base flood limit and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood limit. On this page, X500 is a legacy search label for that shaded Zone X area; check the map legend for the designation used at a specific property.
- Is Flood Zone X500 bad?
- FEMA calls the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood the 500-year flood. Shaded Zone X lies between the base flood limit and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood limit. This page uses X500 as a legacy search label for that shaded Zone X area. Flooding remains possible outside mapped high-risk areas.
- Do I need flood insurance in Zone X500?
- Zone X500 is outside the Special Flood Hazard Area, so federally backed lenders do not require flood insurance. However, flooding can still occur in Zone X500, and standard homeowner's insurance does not cover flood damage. Voluntary flood insurance may be available in NFIP-participating communities.