NFIP Map Revision Eligibility

The Map Revision Exception allows certain NFIP policyholders to qualify for a reduced waiting period when a building's flood zone designation changes due to a FEMA map revision. This exception reduces the standard 30-day waiting period to a 1-day waiting period, provided the eligibility requirements are met.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Map Revision Exception, the following conditions must be satisfied:

1. FEMA Flood Map Change: The exception applies only when NFIP Maps are revised.
2. New SFHA Designation: The revision results in a building being newly designated within a Special Flood Hazard Area where it was previously not in one.
3. Application within 13 Months:
   • The insurer must receive the Application Form (or endorsement request) and the full amount due within 13 months from the effective date of the flood map revision.
   • If the submission occurs after 13 months, the standard 30-day waiting period applies instead of the 1-day waiting period.
4. Eligible Buildings:
   • The exception applies to all eligible buildings, including those owned by condominium associations.

Map and Zone Changes

For a property to qualify under this exception, there must be a physical change in the Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) or Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that results in a zone designation change for a specific building. This means that:

1. The previous flood zone did not classify the property within an SFHA.
2. The updated flood map now places the property inside an SFHA.

Examples of Zone Designation Changes That Qualify

Example 1: FHBM to Zone AE

• Before the Map Revision: A homeowner’s property was located in a Flood Hazard Boundary Map, meaning flood insurance was optional.
• After the Map Revision: A new Flood Insurance Rate Map was created for the community that placed the home in Zone AE (a SFHA).
• Eligibility for Exception: The property qualifies for the 1-day waiting period if the policy application and full payment are submitted within 13 months of the map change.

Example 2: Zone B to Zone VE

• Before the Map Revision: A coastal property was in Zone B, which carries a lower flood risk and does not require flood insurance for federally backed loans.
• After the Map Revision: Due to erosion and updated flood modeling, FEMA reclassifies the area as Zone VE, a high-risk coastal flood zone.
• Eligibility for Exception: The owner is eligible for the 1-day waiting period under the Map Revision Exception if the application is submitted within the specified timeframe.

Scenarios That Do Not Qualify

1. No Change in SFHA Status
   • If a property was already within an SFHA before the map revision and remains in an SFHA after, it does not qualify for the exception.
   • Example: A home was in Zone AE before the update, and the new map still shows it in Zone AE.
2. Zone Change That Does Not Increase Flood Risk
   • If a property moves from one SFHA designation to another, but there is no significant increase in flood risk, it may not qualify.
   • Example: A property shifts from Zone AE to Zone AO, both of which are SFHAs. This may not be considered a significant change.
3. Zone Change That Lowers Flood Risk
   • If a property is removed from an SFHA (e.g., Zone AE to Zone X), the exception does not apply because flood insurance is now optional.