City of Albuquerque Flood Hazard Areas (Flood Zones)

All structures in the City of Albuquerque are required to be at least One foot about the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) including basements unless certain provisions are met concerning the flood protection and or flood proofing.

BFE- Indicates the water surface elevation resulting from a flood that has a one percent chance of equaling or exceeding that level in any given year. Also known as the 100 year storm.

Special Flood Hazard Areas are as follows:

“X”: Low to moderate risk. The purchase of flood insurance as a condition for granting a loan is not requred but encouraged.

“X Protected by levee”: same as “X”, just designating type of protection.

“A”: High Flood risk. No base flood elevations or flood depths given. If allowed to build in this area a hydraulic analysis must be accomplished and a BFE arrived at. Flood insurance required for a mortgage

“AH”: Areas of shallow flooding, BFE’s are given in the relation to a national datum. Flood insurance required for a mortgage.

“AO”: Areas of sheet flow, ponding or shallow flooding. BFE’s are provided based on the feet above grade. Flood insurance required for a mortgage.

“AE”: Areas of floodways with BFE’s given. Flood insurance required for a mortgage.

“0.2 PCT Annual Chance for Flood”: AKA 500 year flood. Chance of the BFE being equaled or exceeded in any given year. One to four unit buildings are eligible for the preferred risk policy

Here are a couple of websites if you are interested in determining Special Flood Hazard Areas:

www.riskmap6.com   click on the state —> click on the county —> click on mapping information —> left side of map enter the address and click search

www.cabq.gov/gis click on street map —> on the left side of the screen click on the yellow envelope which brings up the address locator —> enter the address and click locate —> when the “locate results box” appears click on the number that matches your address