FEMA · Pinellas County

Find your flood zone

Search your address on official FEMA and Pinellas flood maps. Know your zone and base flood elevation context before floor plans and freeboard decisions lock in.

Search by address

Enter a street address to open FEMA’s official Map Service Center (authoritative NFIP products). Use the interactive maps below to explore zones on the parcel.

FEMA address search Pinellas flood maps hub Pinellas flood maps & zones

Use the search / find address tool inside the map (usually upper left). Click the property for zone pop-ups. Pan and zoom like any web map.

Map not loading? Open the viewer full screen: Open FEMA NFHL Viewer · FEMA NFHL portal

Explore

Prefer to explore first?

Tour the design journey, process, or free owner checklists—then call when you are ready.

Design journey Process Free checklists

Step-by-step: before you design

Search the address on FEMA MSC and the map viewers above.
Note the zone (e.g., AE, VE, X) and any BFE callouts in map pop-ups.
Gather documents — survey, elevation certificate if you have one, prior permits.
Ask freeboard questions for your jurisdiction (Pinellas often designs to freeboard above BFE for new/SI work—confirm current rules).
Flag substantial improvement risk if you are renovating an older home in a SFHA.
Bring findings to design fee so massing and first-floor uses are not redrawn later.
Download a coastal checklist for height vs. elevation planning.

Coastal planning PDF checklist FEMA & ASCE 24 guide

Typical timeline (flood diligence)

Map lookup: minutes to an hour
Survey / elevation certificate: often days to a few weeks depending on professionals
Design impact: should happen in concept—not after full construction documents

Cost ranges (general)

Flood diligence itself is inexpensive compared to redrawing a full plan set. Survey and elevation documentation costs vary by lot; elevated construction and V-zone detailing can add meaningful build cost. The expensive mistake is designing first and discovering zone constraints second.

Common pitfalls

Assuming “mainland” means no flood design
Confusing insurance questions with building-code freeboard requirements
Planning finished living below required elevations
Ignoring VE/open foundation needs on coastal high-hazard parcels
Scoping a major remodel without SI (50% rule) awareness

How to read common zones

AE / A
High-risk flood zone (SFHA). Lowest floor and materials rules apply; Pinellas typically requires elevation at least 1 ft above BFE for new/substantial improvement.
VE / V
Coastal high hazard (waves). Open foundations, breakaway walls, scour design—not a “dry floodproof the living space” zone.
X (shaded / unshaded)
Moderate to low risk on older map language; still review insurance and local rules. Map updates can change status.
Floodway
Channel reserved for flood conveyance; development is tightly restricted.

What to capture for your builder

Flood zone letter (AE, VE, X, etc.)
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) if shown
FIRM panel / map date if available
Screenshot or FIRMette PDF from FEMA MSC
City vs. unincorporated jurisdiction for freeboard and height rules

Bring this to design fee conversations so floor plans and elevations respect freeboard—not after the architect set is drawn.

FEMA & ASCE 24 guide Coastal planning PDF

Important: Maps are for planning education. Effective FEMA products, Letters of Map Amendment/Revision, and local floodplain administrator determinations control permitting. Always verify with FEMA MSC, your surveyor, and the Authority Having Jurisdiction before design or construction. Paul Anthony Design & Build does not host FEMA data—we embed official public viewers for your convenience.