Flood insurance cost · Santa Cruz County, CA
Flood insurance cost in Santa Cruz County, California
What homeowners with a National Flood Insurance Program policy actually pay, from FEMA's records of 1,911 home policies in force on August 31, 2026.
Median annual cost of NFIP flood insurance for a home
$1,458a year
Half of insured homes paid between $1,086 and $2,291. That is 35% more than the California median ($1,079). The most common flood zone for insured homes here is zone AE (30%).
This is what policyholders paid, not a quote. Two neighbors can pay very different prices: NFIP prices depend on the building (elevation, foundation, number of floors, replacement cost), the coverage and deductible chosen and the distance to water (FEMA FloodSmart: premium factors). For a price for your building, ask an insurance agent. Private flood insurance is not included in these figures.
Cost by flood zone in Santa Cruz County
The flood zone on FEMA's map is one of the main price factors. Median and middle half of what insured homes paid, by the zone used to rate the policy.
| Flood zone | Median | Middle half (25th–75th percentile) | Average | Policies | vs last year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone VE / V High risk, coastal | $1,812 | $1,371–$2,372 | $1,925 | 138 (7%) | +6.1% |
| Zone AE High risk | $2,195 | $1,347–$3,744 | $2,694 | 582 (30%) | +7.2% |
| Zone A High risk | $2,442 | $1,492–$3,969 | $2,839 | 152 (8%) | +7.3% |
| Zone AO High risk, shallow | $899 | $730–$1,394 | $1,141 | 71 (4%) | +6.0% |
| Zone AH High risk, shallow | $1,766 | $1,131–$2,146 | $1,694 | 231 (12%) | +4.7% |
| Zone A99 / AR High risk, levee areas | $1,304 | $1,198–$1,477 | $1,415 | 425 (22%) | +13.4% |
| Zone X Moderate to low risk | $1,084 | $818–$1,308 | $1,136 | 312 (16%) | +11.2% |
Not shown (fewer than 10 home policies): D. Shares are of all insured homes; a few policies have no rated zone. "vs last year" compares medians with policies in force a year earlier.
Cost by type of building
All NFIP policies in force in Santa Cruz County, by what they insure.
| Type of building | Policies | Median | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family home | 1,577 | $1,488 | $2,018 |
| 2–4 unit building | 205 | $1,457 | $1,722 |
| Manufactured (mobile) home | 59 | $1,052 | $1,460 |
| Condo or apartment unit | 70 | $936 | $1,019 |
| Whole residential building (5+ units or condo association) One policy covers the whole building, so the cost is much higher than for a single home. | 188 | $1,871 | $5,576 |
| Non-residential building or unit Businesses, churches, farm buildings and other non-residential property. | 285 | $4,362 | $4,756 |
One year on: Santa Cruz County
Policies in force on August 31, 2026 compared with a year earlier. Nationwide, practically all policies in both years carry FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 occupancy codes, so both years use the same pricing system. The policies are not the same: some were new, some lapsed.
| Aug 31, 2025 | Aug 31, 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home policies in force | 1,965 | 1,911 | −2.7% |
| Median annual cost | $1,283 | $1,458 | +13.6% |
| Average annual cost | $1,762 | $1,933 | +9.7% |
| All policies in force (any building) | 2,427 | 2,384 | −1.8% |
How many homes have flood insurance?
FEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates, data as of August 3, 2026: residential contracts in force divided by residential structures.
Flood claims history
Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in Santa Cruz County, California have filed 1,651 flood claims. 1,112 received a payment, for a total of $25.1 million (an average of $22,538 per paid claim). The year with the most claims was 1998 (292 claims). Amounts are in dollars of the time, not adjusted for inflation.
All years with at least 10 claims (23)
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year of loss | Claims | Paid claims | Total paid | Average per paid claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 155 | 115 | $7,842,591 | $68,196 |
| 2022 | 97 | 82 | $4,211,161 | $51,356 |
| 2017 | 102 | 59 | $1,227,690 | $20,808 |
| 2016 | 23 | 11 | $113,953 | $10,359 |
| 2012 | 16 | 11 | $252,786 | $22,981 |
| 2011 | 29 | 23 | $590,762 | $25,685 |
| 2006 | 11 | <10 | – | – |
| 2005 | 20 | 15 | $337,194 | $22,480 |
| 2002 | 20 | 16 | $162,938 | $10,184 |
| 2001 | 10 | <10 | – | – |
| 2000 | 36 | 20 | $196,320 | $9,816 |
| 1998 | 292 | 218 | $4,330,073 | $19,863 |
| 1997 | 27 | 12 | $189,993 | $15,833 |
| 1996 | 33 | 19 | $97,548 | $5,134 |
| 1995 | 94 | 50 | $584,953 | $11,699 |
| 1992 | 13 | <10 | – | – |
| 1989 | 14 | <10 | – | – |
| 1986 | 68 | 43 | $211,626 | $4,922 |
| 1983 | 185 | 142 | $1,956,122 | $13,776 |
| 1982 | 214 | 160 | $1,754,357 | $10,965 |
| 1981 | 33 | 20 | $56,645 | $2,832 |
| 1980 | 44 | 26 | $175,996 | $6,769 |
| 1978 | 18 | 14 | $51,004 | $3,643 |
From 2016 to 2026: 377 claims (counting only years with at least 10). 2026 is a partial year. Claims are counted where the insured property is; they include buildings and contents, homes and businesses.
ZIP codes in Santa Cruz County
ZIP codes with at least 300 NFIP home policies in force have their own page.
Main NFIP communities in the county
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County (903 home policies) · Santa Cruz (516 home policies) · Watsonville (426 home policies) · Capitola (51 home policies) · Scotts Valley (14 home policies)