Introduction
This topic contains information on Fannie Mae’s flood insurance coverage requirements, including:
- Determining if a Property Requires Flood Insurance
- Properties Located in the Coastal Barrier Resources System or in an Otherwise Protected Area
- Acceptable Flood Insurance Policies
- Determining the Amount of Required Flood Insurance Coverage
- Requirements for a Unit in a Project Development
- Maximum Allowable Deductibles Requirements
- Delivery Requirements
Determining if a Property Requires Flood Insurance
The lender and servicer must ensure that the property securing the loan is adequately protected by flood insurance when required. Flood insurance coverage is required when a loan is secured by a property located in
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a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), or
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a Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) or Otherwise Protected Area (OPA). (See below for additional information.)
The lender and servicer must determine whether or not the property is located in an SFHA by using the Standard Flood Hazard Determination form endorsed by FEMA. All flood zones beginning with the letter “A” or “V” are considered SFHAs.
The following table describes how to evaluate a property to determine if flood insurance is required. For the purpose of these requirements, the “principal structure” is the primary residential structure on the property securing the loan.
| If... | Then flood insurance is... |
|---|---|
| any part of the principal structure is located in an SFHA | required. |
| the principal structure is not located in an SFHA, but a residential detached structure attached to the land that serves as part of the security for the loan is located within the SFHA | required for the residential detached structure. |
| the principal structure is not located in an SFHA, but a non-residential detached structure attached to the land that serves as part of the security for the loan is located within the SFHA | not required on either structure. |
| the principal structure is not located in an SFHA, but a detached structure attached to the land that does not serve as part of the security for the loan is located within the SFHA | not required on either structure. |
Flood insurance is not required on a principal or residential detached structure securing the loan if the lender or servicer obtains a letter from FEMA stating that its maps have been amended and the structure is no longer in an SFHA.
If the lender or servicer determines that a principal or residential detached structure is located in an SFHA but the community does not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the loan is not eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae.
Loans secured by properties in the Emergency Program of the NFIP are eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae with coverage equivalent to the NFIP maximum that is available.
Properties Located in the Coastal Barrier Resources System or in an Otherwise Protected Area
If the property is located within a CBRS or an OPA, flood insurance is required and the lender and servicer must verify that the flood insurance policy meets Fannie Mae’s requirements (even if the property securing the loan is not in an SFHA). If the property is in a non-participating community and a CBRS or an OPA, it is only eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae if it is not located in an SFHA.
Acceptable Flood Insurance Policies
The flood insurance policy must be one of the following:
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a standard policy issued under the NFIP; or
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a policy issued by a private insurer as long as
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the terms and amount of coverage are at least equal to that provided under an NFIP policy based on a review of the full policy issued by a private insurer, and
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the insurer meets Fannie Mae’s rating requirements as specified in B7-3-01, Property Insurance Requirements for Insurers.
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A Policy Declaration page is acceptable evidence of flood insurance.
Determining the Amount of Required Flood Insurance Coverage
The minimum amount of flood insurance required for first-lien mortgages is the lowest of
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100% of the replacement cost of the insurable value of the improvements,
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the maximum insurance available from the NFIP, or
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the unpaid principal balance (UPB) of the loan (or loan amount at the time of origination).
See below for additional requirements for a unit in a project development.
For a property under construction or renovation, the flood insurance coverage must be in an amount equal to the “as is” value of the property. The coverage must be increased, if necessary, following completion of the renovation work to ensure that the coverage meets Fannie Mae's standard coverage requirements. See B7-3-02, General Property Insurance Coverage, and B7-3-05, Additional Insurance Coverage.
Requirements for a Unit in a Project Development
When a loan is secured by a unit in an attached condo or co-op project and any part of the building improvements are in an SFHA, the lender and servicer must verify that the HOA or co-op corporation maintains a master policy of flood insurance. The premiums must be paid as a common expense, unless indicated otherwise in the table below.
The following table provides additional requirements based on the project type.
| Project Type | Coverage Requirements |
|---|---|
| Condo | The lender and servicer must verify that the HOA maintains a Residential Condominium
Building Association Policy or equivalent private flood insurance coverage for a condo
building consisting of attached units located in an SFHA. The only building that must
be verified is the subject unit’s building. Fannie Mae does not require evidence of
a master flood insurance policy, provided the unit owner maintains an individual flood
dwelling policy that meets the coverage requirements of this Guide for the following
loans or project types:
A master flood insurance policy maintained by the project, must cover the subject unit’s
The coverage amount for the building must be at least equal to the lesser of
If the master flood insurance policy meets the minimum coverage requirement of 80% replacement cost, but the per unit coverage amount does not meet the requirement for loans secured by one- to four-unit properties, as described above, the unit owner must maintain a supplemental policy for the difference. If the commercial space of an attached condo is over 25%, coverage provided by the General Property Form (or equivalent coverage) is insufficient. A private policy must be maintained by the HOA or a private policy in conjunction with a General Property Form policy (or equivalent coverage) to equate to coverage requirements for projects eligible for a Residential Condominium Building Association Policy. The contents coverage must equal the lesser of 100% of the insurable value of all contents owned in common by the association members or the maximum amount available through the NFIP. For additional information on named insured requirements that apply to flood insurance policies, refer to B7-3-04, Property Insurance Coverage for Units in Project Developments. |
| Co-op |
The co-op corporation must have flood insurance coverage for each building that is located in an SFHA. The master policy must cover the building and any common elements and property (including machinery and equipment) that are owned in common by the shareholders of the co-op corporation. The coverage amount for the building must be at least equal to the lesser of 100% replacement cost, or the maximum coverage available under the applicable NFIP program. For additional information on named insured requirements that apply to flood insurance policies, refer to B7-3-04, Property Insurance Coverage for Units in Project Developments. |
| PUD |
The same flood insurance that is required for one- to four-unit properties is required for an attached or detached individual PUD unit. See above for the required amount of coverage. A stand-alone flood insurance dwelling policy must be maintained to meet these requirements. |
Maximum Allowable Deductibles Requirements
The deductible must be no greater than the NFIP maximums based on the property type, unless state law requires a higher maximum deductible amount. This requirement applies to both NFIP and private policies.
Delivery Requirements
The following table describes the special feature code requirements applicable to flood insurance.
| Structure Location and Status of Flood Insurance Coverage | Special Feature Code |
|---|---|
|
SFC 170 Flood Insurance — Special Flood Hazard Area |
|
SFC 175 Flood Insurance — Not a Special Flood Hazard Area |
|
SFC 180 No Flood Insurance — Not a Special Flood Hazard Area |
Related Announcements
The table below provides references to the Announcements that have been issued that are related to this topic.
| Announcements | Issue Date |
|---|---|
| Announcement SEL-2021-11 | December 15, 2021 |
| Announcement SEL-2019-07 | August 07, 2019 |
| Announcement SEL-2018-09 | December 04, 2018 |
| Announcement SEL-2016–03 | March 29, 2016 |
| Announcement SEL-2014–16 | December 16, 2014 |
| Announcement SEL-2014–10 | July 29, 2014 |
| Announcement SEL-2013–07 | September 24, 2013 |
| Announcement SEL-2013–03 | April 9, 2013 |
| Announcement SEL-2012–07 | August 21, 2012 |
| Announcement 09-28 | August 21, 2009 |