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Homeowners and renters insurance usually doesn’t protect against flood damage, making purchasing a flood insurance policy significantly necessary. Based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Risk Rating 2.0 system, the cost of flood insurance is determined by your location and various factors like dwelling structure, elevation, replacement and repair costs.

Since New York has multiple high-risk flood zones, you should check a local flood map and consider getting a policy if your home is in a moderate-risk or high-risk zone. You should know that even an inch of water can cause damage costing up to $25,000, according to FEMA.


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On average, flood insurance costs $1,250 per year in New York.

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There are two ways of purchasing a flood policy: through the NFIP or a private insurance company.

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Your location, coverage, deductible, home’s dwelling structure, elevation and other factors affect the premium.

Average Cost of Flood Insurance in New York

The average flood insurance policy cost in New York is $1,250 per year. However, you might pay a different price based on your county. An insurer analyzes the state’s flood-prone areas and individual property risks to determine the flood insurance policy cost. Individuals living in a moderate or high-risk flood zone will pay more for a policy.

Average Cost of Flood Insurance by County in New York

Since there may be many flood-prone areas in New York, a policy in the state costs more than the national average. With an average cost of $651 per year, San Juan Municipio is the cheapest county for flood insurance in New York. In contrast, the most expensive is Fairfield County, with an average cost of $2,944 annually.

In the table below, MoneyGeek listed the average cost of flood insurance by county in New York.

New York Flood Insurance Cost Per County
County
Average Cost

ALBANY COUNTY

$1,792

ALLEGANY COUNTY

$997

BRONX COUNTY

$1,674

BROOME COUNTY

$1,102

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY

$1,380

CAYUGA COUNTY

$1,365

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY

$938

CHEMUNG COUNTY

$1,229

CHENANGO COUNTY

$1,204

CLINTON COUNTY

$948

COLUMBIA COUNTY

$1,303

CORTLAND COUNTY

$1,371

DELAWARE COUNTY

$1,603

DUTCHESS COUNTY

$1,399

ERIE COUNTY

$988

ESSEX COUNTY

$1,142

FAIRFIELD COUNTY

$2,944

FRANKLIN COUNTY

$1,236

FULTON COUNTY

$1,689

GENESEE COUNTY

$1,411

GREENE COUNTY

$2,014

HAMILTON COUNTY

$1,275

HERKIMER COUNTY

$1,169

JEFFERSON COUNTY

$1,205

KINGS COUNTY

$1,023

LEWIS COUNTY

$1,238

LIVINGSTON COUNTY

$1,165

MADISON COUNTY

$1,524

MONROE COUNTY

$1,167

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

$1,917

NASSAU COUNTY

$1,280

NEW YORK COUNTY

$1,041

NIAGARA COUNTY

$1,071

ONEIDA COUNTY

$1,281

ONONDAGA COUNTY

$1,110

ONTARIO COUNTY

$1,086

ORANGE COUNTY

$1,184

ORLEANS COUNTY

$907

OSWEGO COUNTY

$1,047

OTSEGO COUNTY

$1,266

PUTNAM COUNTY

$1,382

QUEENS COUNTY

$1,128

RENSSELAER COUNTY

$2,171

RICHMOND COUNTY

$1,187

ROCKLAND COUNTY

$1,129

SAN JUAN MUNICIPIO

$651

SARATOGA COUNTY

$1,271

SCHENECTADY COUNTY

$1,638

SCHOHARIE COUNTY

$1,329

SCHUYLER COUNTY

$992

SENECA COUNTY

$1,028

STEUBEN COUNTY

$1,207

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY

$1,378

SUFFOLK COUNTY

$1,323

SULLIVAN COUNTY

$1,342

TIOGA COUNTY

$1,854

TOMPKINS COUNTY

$1,273

ULSTER COUNTY

$1,731

WARREN COUNTY

$1,078

WASHINGTON COUNTY

$1,177

WAYNE COUNTY

$1,314

WESTCHESTER COUNTY

$1,544

WYOMING COUNTY

$1,368

YATES COUNTY

$1,265

Companies That Offer Flood Insurance in New York

While you can get flood insurance from the NFIP, purchasing a policy from a private insurer is also an option. A private insurance company may offer you base coverage, similar to an NFIP policy, or an excess policy that includes supplemental coverage.

Buying insurance from a private provider is the best option for households not in an NFIP community or that find its coverage insufficient.

Private Flood Insurance Providers in NY and Their Contact Numbers
Company
Contact

Neptune Flood

727-202-4815

Aon Private Flood

888-281-0684

Hiscox - FloodPlus

866-283-7545

FloodSimple Insurance Services

844-803-8788

Chubb

866-324-8222

Zurich Insurance Group

800-382-2150

Swiss Re

(914) 828-8000

Berkshire Hathaway

800-673-2465

The NFIP has also partnered with private insurance companies to offer flood insurance. See the table below for a list of these companies.

NFIP-Participating Flood Insurance Providers in State and Their Contact Numbers
Company
Contact

Allstate Insurance Company

(800) 527-2634

American Nat. Prop. & Casualty

(417) 887-4990

American Strategic Ins. Corp.

(866) 274-8765

Assurant

(800) 423-4403

Farm Family Casualty

(518) 431-5000

Farmers Insurance Group

(866) 865-2965

Hartford Fire Insurance Co.

(860) 547-7440

Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co.

(800) 296-7542

Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company

(800) 283-6033

National General Insurance Co

(800) 462-2123

NFIP Direct Servicing Agent

(800) 638-6620

NGM Insurance Company

(603) 352-4000

Occidental Fire & Casualty

(800) 780-8423

Pacific Specialty Insurance Company

(800)-303-5000

Philadelphia Indemnity Ins. Co

(877) 672-7945 ext. 8295

Privilege Underwriters

(888) 813-7873

QBE Insurance Corporation

(877) 372-3996

Selective Ins. Co. Of America

(877) 348-0552

Union Mutual Fire Ins. Co.

(800) 300-5261

United Property & Cas. Ins. Co

(727) 895-7737

Universal North America Insurance Company

(866) 458-4262

USAA General Indemnity Company

(210) 531-USAA (8722)

Westfield Insurance Company

(800) 243-0210

Wright National Flood Ins. Co.

(866) 373-5663

How to Purchase Flood Insurance and Its Coverage Requirements

Purchasing flood insurance in New York is pretty straightforward, and there are no special requirements. If you want a policy, you need to call your home insurance provider or the NFIP hotline at 877-336-2627. You can also purchase a policy from a provider besides your home insurance agent.

The NFIP has a 30-day waiting period, while private insurers can have a 10-day waiting period, which makes it essential to get flood insurance as soon as possible. You can confirm the period with your provider.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover in New York?

It’s important to know that even an inch of water can cause damages as high as $25,000. A flood insurance policy ensures coverage against damage to building structures and contents.

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Understand that “flood” mentioned in a flood insurance policy refers to the damage caused by a natural weather event. A flood insurance policy in New York doesn’t cover water damage from broken pipes, leaking appliances or the roof, or other causes.

A flood insurance policy doesn’t provide you protection against damage to a swimming pool, decks, patios, landscaping, cash and paperwork, basement items and vehicles. If you want coverage against vehicle damage because of a flood, you should get comprehensive insurance.

Flood Insurance Building Coverage

Building coverage helps you repair or rebuild your home in case of damage to its physical structure by a covered peril. You can purchase up to $250,000 worth of building coverage through the NFIP as part of a flood insurance policy to cover the following:

  • Foundation walls
  • Electrical systems
  • Plumbing systems
  • Furnaces, central heating and air conditioning
  • Built-in appliances
  • Permanent carpets
  • Built-in furniture

Flood Insurance Contents Coverage

If a flood damages your personal belongings, contents coverage can help you pay for their replacement or repair. You can purchase up to $100,000 worth of flood contents coverage through the NFIP to cover the following:

  • Clothing
  • Furniture
  • Electronic equipment
  • Washers and dryers
  • Artwork

Factors That Affect Flood Insurance Costs in New York

Before October 2021, your general location and whether you were in a flood zone or not had a significant impact on a flood insurance policy cost. Using FEMA’s online tool can help you determine the historical flood risk in New York.

In New York, Nassau County has had the most flood events. The average cost of flood insurance in this county is $1,280 per year. On the other hand, Seneca County has had the fewest floods. On average, a policy in this county costs $1,028 per year.

Risk Rating 2.0

In October 2021, FEMA put forward its Risk Rating 2.0 system, which does not solely rely on a broader flood map and considers individual factors to calculate a premium. The system analyzes individual property risks like foundation type, dwelling structure, elevation, replacement and repair costs, and more to determine a flood insurance policy premium.

However, your location still significantly impacts your flood policy costs in New York. See the list below for other factors that influence flood insurance costs.

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    Flood Risk

    Since Risk Rating 2.0 measures flood risk individually, your neighbor may not have the same risk as you. If you live in an area with a moderate or high flood risk, expect to pay a higher premium for a policy.

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    Coverage Type

    You pay for flood insurance based on your coverage amount and what you can get depends on your New York county.

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    Deductible

    Choosing a policy with a higher deductible lowers your monthly payment. With a claim, you do pay whatever deductible amount you choose.

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    Age of Structure

    An insurer will charge more to insure an older structure than to insure a newer property.

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    Structure Design

    Your structure design and the materials used can affect your flood insurance costs.

Do You Need Flood Insurance in New York?

A flood insurance policy offers peace of mind and is a good investment since every property is vulnerable to flooding. If your home is in a high-risk flood zone in New York, government-backed mortgages and lenders will require a policy. A flood insurance policy can offer an extra layer of protection, even if you don't live in a high-risk area.

You should know that homeowners or renters insurance often does not cover flood damage. Flood coverage may only be available through a policy from NFIP or a private insurer.

It helps to know that a flood insurance policy will pay your claim without a presidential disaster declaration and will offer more compensation than federal disaster assistance, which won't be more than $5,000.

Frequently Asked Questions About New York Flood Insurance

MoneyGeek answered frequently asked questions about flood insurance in New York to help you understand its cost, available options and other important details.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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