Flood Insurance Terms & Definitions
Flood Insurance Glossary
Search common flood insurance terms, policy language, and claim-related definitions written for homeowners and property owners.
Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
The Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the height, in feet above mean sea level, that floodwaters are expected to reach during a base flood, which has a 1 percent annual chance of occurring.
Walled and Roofed
A walled and roofed building is a structure with at least two rigid exterior walls and a fully secured roof designed to resist flood-related forces.
Unit
A unit is an individual residential space within a condominium building that is separately owned and intended for private use.
Special Flood Hazard Area
A mapped area with a high risk of flooding where flood insurance is typically required for federally backed mortgages.
Residential Condominium Building
A condominium building with one or more residential units where at least 75 percent of the total floor area is used for residential purposes.
Regular Program Community
A community that participates fully in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) after completing flood hazard studies and adopting FEMA-approved floodplain management regulations.
Pre-FIRM Building
A building constructed or substantially improved before the first Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) became effective for the community where the building is located.
Post-FIRM Building
A Post-FIRM building is a building that was built or substantially improved after December 31, 1974, or on/after the effective date of the community’s first Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), whichever is later.
Policy
A policy is the complete legal contract between the insured and the insurance provider that defines coverage, limits, exclusions, and conditions.
Owner
An Owner is the person or entity that holds legal or equitable title to a property and has an insurable interest in it at the time of a flood loss.