What does flood zone VE mean?
Zone VE is a coastal high-hazard area: land in the 1% annual-chance flood that also faces waves of 3 feet or more. FEMA has published a base flood elevation that includes the wave height.
In more detail
V zones sit along open coasts. Buildings there take the force of moving water and waves, not just rising water, so the rules are stricter than in A zones.
New and substantially improved buildings in V zones must be raised on piles or columns so the bottom of the lowest structural member is at or above the base flood elevation, with the space below kept open or enclosed only by breakaway walls. Fill can't be used for structural support.
What it means when you buy
Flood insurance is required for most loans and is usually the most expensive of any zone. Older buildings that don't meet V zone rules can face very high premiums and limits on how much you can renovate.
How the free flood check shows it
The free flood check shows coastal V zones on the parcel. For a coastal hotel or apartment building, that line often decides the deal.
Check the flood zone for an address, free
Enter any US address to see its FEMA flood zone and a map of the flood areas around it. Add your email to see which buildings sit in the flood zone and the risk numbers.