What are flood zone codes?

Flood zones are labeled on flood maps as zones A, AE, AH, AO and AR for high-risk or Special Flood Hazard Areas, along with A1-30 and A99, V, VE and V1-30; zones B and X for moderate-risk areas; and zones C and X for lower-risk areas.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency defines A and V zones as the areas that are to be inundated by a flood event having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded within a year. Moderate-risk zones, labeled B or X with shading on map, are areas between the 1-percent and the 0.2-percent annual chance of flood. Low-risk zones, labeled C or X without shading, are areas outside the 1-percent area and higher in elevation than the 0.2-percent area.