Flood insurance in District of Columbia: cost by ZIP code and county
The District of Columbia has 1,166 single-family flood policies; the median bill was $394 on July 31, 2026, among the lowest anywhere.
Median single-family flood bill, District of Columbia
$394
1,166 policies in force on July 31, 2026, premium and fees included.
| Median full-risk price, same policies | $394 |
| Policies still below their full-risk price | 12 % |
| Median paid in August 2023 | $395 |
| Increase left from the median | none left |
| Next five bills, added up | $1,970 |
| Median claim paid, 2016 to 2025 (108 claims) | $3,518 |
Compiled by Radif Partners · Where the numbers come from · 17 ZIP codes and 1 counties of District of Columbia in FEMA's tables · not a quote
In the District of Columbia, a single-family flood policy had a median yearly cost of $394 on July 31, 2026, premium plus Reserve Fund Assessment, HFIAA surcharge and Federal Policy Fee, across only 1,166 policies. That is far below the national median of $1,081. The District is also almost entirely at full price: the full-risk median is $394, the same as the bill, and just 12 % of policies are still capped, so yearly increases tied to the cap barely apply. Most policies, 997 of them, are in X zones at a median $381; the 169 A zone policies cost $535. In FEMA's 2023 tables, 98 % of the District's single-family homes had a full-risk price under $1,000. Paid claims numbered 108 from 2016 to 2025, mostly small.
A low price set by FEMA's own model
FEMA's model puts the flood risk of most single-family houses in the District at a low level: the full-risk median matches the bill. FEMA counts no storm surge exposure for the District's 2023 policies, only inland flooding. These figures also leave out apartments and condominium units, which the single-family medians do not cover. The result is a small, cheap market: 1,166 policies, nearly all priced under $1,000 a year.
At this price level, fixed charges weigh more. The Federal Policy Fee and the HFIAA surcharge for a main home together come to $72, about 18 % of the median bill. The Reserve Fund Assessment adds 18 % of the discounted premium on top.
A flat path ahead
Because the median bill already equals the median full-risk price, a typical District policy has no capped increase left to absorb. Over five renewals at today's rates, the bill would total $1,970. FEMA can still change its rates for everyone, and a renewal paid 30 days or more late is rewritten at full price, which here changes little. The few capped policies, 12 % of the total, are the ones still climbing by up to 18 % a year.
Next five bills for a District home
Your next five flood bills, added up
$1,970
| Renewal 1 | $394 |
| Renewal 2 | $394 |
| Renewal 3 | $394 |
| Renewal 4 | $394 |
The District's bills have barely moved. In FEMA's table of policies in force in August 2023, the median single-family bill was $395 and the median full-risk price $397. The OpenFEMA median on July 31, 2026, $394, is almost the same. Elsewhere the same comparison shows years of increases; here there was little gap to close.
Claims: frequent enough to notice, small in size
The program paid 108 single-family claims in the District over the decade, $744,618 in total, with a median of $3,518. Most were in X zones, 95 of them, against 13 in A zones. No single event stands out: Hurricane Ida in 2021 paid 1 claim, Tropical Storm Ophelia in 2023 1. Federal policies cover basements only narrowly, as explained in coverage limits. Renters can buy contents cover alone; see flood insurance for renters.
The District of Columbia counties with the most policies
| County | Policies | Median bill | Full-risk median | Still below full risk | Renewals left at 18 % | Median bill, August 2023 | Median claim 2016-2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 1,166 | $394 | $394 | 12 % | none | $397 | $3,518 |
Full-risk prices of District of Columbia homes, band by band
| Full risk-based price a year | Policies | Share | Median rebuild value |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 to $1,000 | 1,282 | 98.4 % | $465,809 |
| $1,000 to $2,000 | 12 | 0.9 % | $636,085 |
| $2,000 to $3,000 | 6 | 0.5 % | $745,643 |
| $3,000 to $4,000 | 3 | 0.2 % | $451,677 |
The floods that paid the most District of Columbia claims since 2016
| Event (FEMA name) | Year | Paid claims | Paid in total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ida | 2021 | 1 | $8,866 |
| Tropical Storm Ophelia | 2023 | 1 | $3,071 |