Flood Insurance in Connecticut: How Much It Costs and When You Need Coverage
Find Cheap Homeowners Insurance Quotes in Connecticut
The average cost of flood insurance in Connecticut is $1,504 per year, or $125 per month.
Connecticut homeowners may be required to obtain flood insurance if a home is located in an area that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has designated as a high-risk flood zone.
How much does flood insurance cost in Connecticut?
The average Connecticut homeowner with federal flood insurance pays $1,504 per year for $268,060 of coverage. But because National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rates are calculated based on property-specific factors like location and structure, your own flood insurance rates may end up being higher or lower than the statewide average.
One of the main factors that influences flood insurance rates is your geography — flood insurance usually costs more for homes located on the coast or near lakes or rivers.
It's easier to understand the influence of geography when you compare flood insurance costs between cities. In our analysis of the most recently available FEMA data, we looked at where flood insurance is most in demand.
Of the 15 Connecticut towns and cities with the highest numbers of active flood insurance policies, eight are located in Fairfield County and five are located in New Haven County. Both counties are located along the Connecticut coast.
Cities with the most active flood insurance policies in Connecticut
City | Policies in force | Average annual cost | Average coverage amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milford | 2,315 | $1,170 | $259,670 |
| Stamford | 2,137 | $1,149 | $255,631 |
| Fairfield | 1,970 | $1,633 | $280,591 |
| Norwalk | 1,750 | $1,706 | $279,101 |
| Greenwich | 1,523 | $1,630 | $311,731 |
Finding cheap flood insurance in Connecticut
Whether you live in a high-risk area and can't find affordable coverage or you were recently rezoned into a new special flood hazard area (SFHA), there are two steps to find cheap flood insurance quotes in Connecticut.
- Get a quote from a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)-approved agent or insurer
- Compare quotes from private flood insurance companies
An NFIP-sponsored flood policy costs the same amount regardless of where you shop, so you only need to compare quotes if you opt for private flood insurance.
Private flood insurance may cost far less than equivalent coverage from an NFIP policy, particularly in areas with relatively low risk of flooding.
Providers such as Lloyd's of London write private flood policies in Connecticut and other states.
It's also important to note that in most cases NFIP flood insurance only provides coverage limits of $250,000 for your home's structure and $100,000 for your possessions. If your property and belongings are worth more than that, you may want to consider purchasing flood insurance from a private insurer.
We recommend comparing flood insurance quotes from multiple companies to find the best rates and coverage.
When is flood insurance required in Connecticut?
If you're located in one of FEMA's SFHAs your mortgage lender will require you to purchase flood insurance per federal law. If your neighborhood happens to be rezoned into a new SFHA , your lender may inform you that you need to get flood insurance.
FEMA recalculates Connecticut flood zone maps annually. That means whether you're required to have flood insurance can change from year to year. Checking your flood zone designation is an important step when considering whether you need to purchase a flood insurance policy.
Even if you aren't in an SFHA, your lender may still make you get flood insurance based on local risk.
Frequently asked questions
How much is flood insurance in Connecticut?
Homeowners in Connecticut pay an average of $1,504 per year, or $125 per month, for a federal flood insurance policy with $268,060 of coverage. That's $519 more per year than the national average.
Do you need flood insurance in Connecticut?
You may need flood insurance if you own a home in Connecticut. However, it depends on the location of your home. Homeowners should check their flood zone with FEMA to determine whether they need to purchase a flood insurance policy.
How much is flood insurance in Stamford, Connecticut?
Homeowners in Stamford, Connecticut pay an average of $1,149 per year, or $96 per month, for a federal flood insurance policy. In comparison, people living in New Haven pay $1,783 per year — $634 more per year.
What is an AE flood zone in Connecticut?
If your home is located in an AE flood zone, it means that your property has a 1% chance of flooding each year, and a 26% chance over a 30-year-period, according to FEMA.
Methodology
Flood insurance quotes are based on data from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which regulates flood insurance rates across the country. Most homeowners with flood insurance purchase it from insurers and agents participating in the NFIP.
Lindsay Bishop
Senior Writer
Lindsay Bishop is a Senior Writer at ValuePenguin, where she educates readers about home, auto, renters, flood and motorcycle insurance.
Lindsay began her career in the insurance and financial industry in 2010. She was a licensed auto, home, life and health insurance agent and held Series 6 and 63 financial licenses.
After a hiatus from the financial sector, Lindsay returned to the industry as a content writer for ValuePenguin in 2021. She enjoys having the opportunity to help readers make smart decisions about their insurance so they can be prepared for anything life throws their way.
When Lindsay isn't writing about insurance, you can find her spending time with family, enjoying the outdoors on Sunday long runs or riding her Peloton.
How insurance helped Lindsay
As a homeowner for 15 years located in South Carolina, Lindsay has plenty of experience navigating the coastal insurance market and managing the claims process. That includes successfully negotiating a full roof replacement claim.
Expertise
- Home insurance
- Car insurance
- Flood insurance
- Renters insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- CNBC
- Yahoo Finance
- Miami Herald
Education
- BS/BA Economics, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
