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Homeowners and renters insurance don’t cover flood insurance. Instead, you need to contact the NFIP or a private insurer to get coverage. How much you’ll pay will depend on your location and individual property risks, like dwelling structure, elevation and flood frequency.

Although North Carolina doesn’t have many high-risk flood zones, homeowners are still encouraged to get flood insurance. An inch of flood water can cost up to $25,000 in damages, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).


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The average cost of flood insurance in North Carolina is $20 cheaper than the national average.

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Aside from the NFIP, you can purchase flood insurance in North Carolina from private companies.

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Since 1996, Clay County has had the least flooding events (six) in North Carolina, while Wake County has had the most (132).

Average Cost of Flood Insurance in North Carolina

The cost of flood insurance in North Carolina averages $747 per year. However, rates may differ depending on individual property risks and how flood-prone an area is. Typically, those within moderate-risk or high-risk flood zones have higher premiums.

Average Cost of Flood Insurance by County in North Carolina

Flood insurance in North Carolina is $20 cheaper than the national average. This may be because there are fewer flood-prone areas in the state.

MoneyGeek discovered that flood insurance is the least expensive in Hall County ($254 per year) and most expensive in Wilkes County ($2,330 per year). Review the table below to see the average rates in other North Carolina counties.

North Carolina Flood Insurance Cost per County
County
Average Cost

ALAMANCE COUNTY

$778

ALEXANDER COUNTY

$1,966

ALLEGHANY COUNTY

$654

ANSON COUNTY

$543

ASHE COUNTY

$1,265

AVERY COUNTY

$974

BEAUFORT COUNTY

$700

BERTIE COUNTY

$828

BLADEN COUNTY

$789

BRUNSWICK COUNTY

$639

BUNCOMBE COUNTY

$1,587

BURKE COUNTY

$1,179

CABARRUS COUNTY

$635

CALDWELL COUNTY

$1,503

CAMDEN COUNTY

$602

CARTERET COUNTY

$740

CASWELL COUNTY

$670

CATAWBA COUNTY

$843

CHATHAM COUNTY

$601

CHEROKEE COUNTY

$754

CHOWAN COUNTY

$625

CLAY COUNTY

$744

CLEVELAND COUNTY

$1,094

COLUMBUS COUNTY

$715

CRAVEN COUNTY

$693

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

$654

CURRITUCK COUNTY

$644

DARE COUNTY

$640

DAVIDSON COUNTY

$782

DAVIE COUNTY

$672

DUPLIN COUNTY

$600

DURHAM COUNTY

$777

EDGECOMBE COUNTY

$883

FORSYTH COUNTY

$943

FRANKLIN COUNTY

$561

GASTON COUNTY

$917

GATES COUNTY

$858

GRAHAM COUNTY

$1,075

GRANVILLE COUNTY

$456

GREENE COUNTY

$658

GUILFORD COUNTY

$1,037

HALIFAX COUNTY

$1,042

HALL COUNTY

$254

HARNETT COUNTY

$687

HAYWOOD COUNTY

$1,167

HENDERSON COUNTY

$865

HERTFORD COUNTY

$901

HOKE COUNTY

$526

HORRY COUNTY

$467

HYDE COUNTY

$750

IREDELL COUNTY

$660

JACKSON COUNTY

$1,112

JOHNSTON COUNTY

$942

JONES COUNTY

$590

LEE COUNTY

$1,026

LENOIR COUNTY

$1,321

LINCOLN COUNTY

$704

MACON COUNTY

$1,209

MADISON COUNTY

$2,110

MARTIN COUNTY

$712

MCDOWELL COUNTY

$919

MECKLENBURG COUNTY

$735

MITCHELL COUNTY

$1,257

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

$1,019

MOORE COUNTY

$755

NASH COUNTY

$1,134

NEW HANOVER COUNTY

$722

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

$565

ONSLOW COUNTY

$682

ORANGE COUNTY

$916

PAMLICO COUNTY

$667

PASQUOTANK COUNTY

$653

PENDER COUNTY

$1,012

PERQUIMANS COUNTY

$554

PERSON COUNTY

$1,006

PITT COUNTY

$732

POLK COUNTY

$696

RANDOLPH COUNTY

$873

RICHMOND COUNTY

$1,538

ROBESON COUNTY

$1,027

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

$1,401

ROWAN COUNTY

$979

RUTHERFORD COUNTY

$989

SAMPSON COUNTY

$794

SCOTLAND COUNTY

$674

STANLY COUNTY

$1,303

STOKES COUNTY

$712

SURRY COUNTY

$1,355

SWAIN COUNTY

$1,814

TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY

$945

TYRRELL COUNTY

$1,077

UNION COUNTY

$629

VANCE COUNTY

$530

WAKE COUNTY

$805

WARREN COUNTY

$469

WASHINGTON COUNTY

$857

WATAUGA COUNTY

$916

WAYNE COUNTY

$1,035

WILKES COUNTY

$2,330

WILSON COUNTY

$1,100

YADKIN COUNTY

$889

YANCEY COUNTY

$1,081

Companies That Offer Flood Insurance in North Carolina

North Carolinians can purchase flood insurance from the NFIP or a private company. With private insurers, you can get a base policy (similar to NFIP coverage) or an excess policy (supplemental coverage for a base policy). They are usually ideal for households outside an NFIP community and those that find NFIP coverage insufficient.

Private Flood Insurance Providers in NC 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

41 43 285 2121

Berkshire Hathaway

800-673-2465

Private Market Flood

877-356-6348

TypTap

844-289-7968

The NFIP also has partner insurance companies in North Carolina that provide flood insurance coverage. See the table below for the complete list of NFIP-participating insurance providers in the state.

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

Allstate Insurance Company

(800) 527-2634

American Strategic Ins. Corp.

(866) 274-8765

Assurant

(800) 423-4403

Auto Owners Insurance Co.

Refer to the Agent locator

Bankers Insurance Group, DBA: First Community Insurance Company

(800) 627-0000

Centauri Specialty Ins. Company

(866) 318-4113

Everett Cash Mutual Ins. Co.

(800) 326-4968

Farmers Insurance Group

(866) 865-2965

First Protective Ins. Company / Frontline

(877) 744-5224

Hartford Fire Insurance Co.

(860) 547-7440

Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co.

(800) 296-7542

Homesite Insurance Company

(800) 466-3748

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

Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company

(800) 647-8052

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

It’s usually easy to buy flood insurance since there are no special requirements. You can get started by calling the NFIP hotline at 877-336-2627 or your home insurance agent.

It’s advisable to purchase a policy as soon as possible because the NFIP has a 30-day waiting period. Meanwhile, private insurance companies in North Carolina have a waiting period of 10 days or more. Contact your provider to confirm.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover in North Carolina?

Flood insurance typically covers damages to your building structure and belongings. Without coverage, you could face $25,000 in flood damage from just an inch of water in your house.

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

When it comes to flood insurance, it’s important to remember that a “flood” refers to damage created by a weather event, not due to broken pipes or leaky appliances.

Standard flood insurance only covers building structures and personal belongings. It won’t provide coverage for vehicle flooding, swimming pools, decks, patios, landscaping, cash, paperwork or basement items.

Flood Insurance Building Coverage

One part of standard flood insurance is building coverage, which helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing your home structure. With an NFIP policy, you can purchase up to $250,000 in building coverage.

Note that building coverage can cover damages to the physical structure of your home, including:

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

Flood Insurance Contents Coverage

Contents coverage is the other part of standard flood insurance. This pays for the damages to your personal belongings. NFIP policyholders can purchase up to $100,000 in contents coverage.

With this, the following items are protected:

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

Factors That Affect Flood Insurance Costs in North Carolina

Previously, insurance companies used your proximity to a flood zone to determine the cost of flood insurance. FEMA has an online tool on its website for viewing the historical flood risk of U.S. counties by state.

In North Carolina, Clay County has had the least flooding events since 1996 (six), while Wake County has had the most (132). The average cost of flood insurance in these two counties is $744 and $805 per year, respectively. It’s worth noting that Wake County doesn’t have the most expensive premiums for flood insurance. This may be because flood events are more spread out over the area.

Risk Rating 2.0

In October 2021, FEMA introduced a new pricing methodology for flood insurance (Risk Rating 2.0). Compared to the older system, Risk Rating 2.0 takes individual factors into consideration, including foundation type, dwelling structure, elevation, replacement and repair costs, flood frequency and distance to a body of water.

Because it doesn’t only consider flood zone proximity, Risk Rating 2.0 delivers fairer premiums. However, where you live can still heavily impact your flood insurance costs. The list below further breaks down the factors affecting the cost of flood insurance.

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    Flood Risk

    Living within a moderate- or high-risk flood zone can get you higher premiums. However, Risk Rating 2.0 also evaluates individual property risks. This means you may have a different rate from your neighbor.

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    Coverage Type

    Your coverage level also affects the cost of flood insurance. For instance, the more comprehensive coverage you get, the more expensive your premiums will be. Coverage options may vary based on your North Carolina county.

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    Deductible

    Having a higher deductible can get you a lower monthly premium, but you’ll be responsible for paying this amount when you file a claim. Deductibles usually range between $1,000 and $10,000.

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    Age of Structure

    The age of your home plays a role in your flood insurance costs. Older structures are usually more expensive to insure than newer homes.

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    Structure Design

    Similarly, your home’s structural design and construction materials affect the cost of your flood insurance policy.

Do You Need Flood Insurance in North Carolina?

Getting flood insurance is optional. However, those living in a high-risk or moderate-risk flood zone may be required to purchase a policy by government-backed mortgage lenders. Because every property is vulnerable to flooding, those in low-risk flood zones are also advised to buy coverage.

You can get flood insurance from the NFIP or a private insurance company. Flood insurance carriers usually pay claims even without a presidential disaster declaration. Plus, they offer more compensation than federal assistance, which caps its disaster grants at $5,000 per household.

Ultimately, flood insurance can provide you with an added layer of protection and peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Flood Insurance

Learn more about flood insurance in North Carolina by reading MoneyGeek’s answers to some frequently asked questions below.

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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