Does Avondale flood?
Avondale, Charleston, SC · ZIP codes 29407 and 29412: the ZIP codes on most of the flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around Avondale have filed flood claims. About 2.9% of Avondale’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 48 claims from the Census block groups that cover Avondale, from 1979 through 2024. 30 of them received a payment, totaling $636,761 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 1989 (14 claims), 2015 (7 claims), 2022 (6 claims).
What this page counts as Avondale
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for Avondale, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, Avondale means the 2010 Census block groups whose center lies within 1.6 km (1.0 miles) of the U.S. Geological Survey (GNIS) map point for Avondale (feature 1231021), each block group going to the nearest of the places we cover. Every number below is for exactly those block groups (listed in “How these numbers were made”), so the edges are approximate and may include or leave out a few blocks people would call Avondale. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
Past claims do not predict future flooding, and a neighborhood figure cannot tell you about one building. Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get flood insurance quotes before you sign a lease or a contract.
Check a specific address in Avondale
Neighborhood figures are averages. Our address check looks up the FEMA flood zone at one address, from the same public maps: check if your address is in a flood zone.
Flood zones street by street in Avondale
The named streets in Avondale, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Avondale lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Avondale; the main zone is the FEMA zone covering most of that length. A street can cross several zones, so the zone at one address can differ from the street’s main zone: check the address above for that. 6 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Andrews Blvd | 3,880 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (96%) |
| Avondale Ave | 3,330 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Magnolia Rd | 2,630 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (78%) |
| Bear Ave | 2,360 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (89%) |
| Sycamore Ave | 2,350 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (96%) |
| Colony Dr | 2,050 ft | 71% | AE (71%) |
| Hamilton Ave | 2,030 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (93%) |
| US Hwy 17 | 2,010 ft | 5.9% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (70%) |
| Rosedale Dr | 2,000 ft | 5.3% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (95%) |
| Riverdale Dr | 1,890 ft | 9.2% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (90%) |
| Hickory St | 1,680 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Lindendale Ave | 1,650 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Lolandra Ave | 1,500 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Tall Oak Ave | 1,480 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Live Oak Ave | 1,310 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Ashdale Dr | 1,250 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Oakdale Pl | 1,190 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Apollo Rd | 1,070 ft | 9.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (85%) |
| Penn Ave | 930 ft | 17% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (81%) |
| Collingwood Ave | 850 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Collingwood St | 850 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Arcadian Way | 840 ft | 8.8% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (89%) |
| Wedgepark Rd | 830 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Peeks Pike | 800 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Stratford Rd | 730 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
Streets: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads). Flood zones: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, retrieved October 25, 2026. Each street is clipped to the area boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in Avondale
Share of Avondale’s mapped area (about 0.852 km²) in each FEMA flood zone, from FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Mapped base flood elevations inside the neighborhood range from 9 to 12 feet. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (45019C0511K): January 29, 2021.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 73% |
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 24% |
| AE | 2.9% |
What the zones mean
- Zone AE (and A, AH, AO)
- High-risk: part of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the area FEMA maps as having a 1-percent chance of flooding in any given year (the “100-year” or base flood). AE areas have a mapped base flood elevation.
- Zone VE (and V)
- High-risk coastal areas, also in the SFHA, where the base flood is expected to bring additional hazards from storm waves.
- Zone X (shaded)
- Moderate hazard: between the limits of the 1-percent and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (“500-year”) flood.
- Zone X (unshaded)
- Minimal hazard: outside the SFHA and higher than the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood elevation. Minimal is not zero: flood claims are filed from X zones too.
Source: FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
Flood insurance claims over time
Claims filed under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from the 2010 Census block groups that cover Avondale. This area is made of whole block groups, so every claim counted here comes from inside it. Only insured properties appear, so these counts understate total flooding.
By decade
| Decade | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1 | $1,506 |
| 1980s | 16 | $24,235 |
| 1990s | 7 | $8,465 |
| 2000s | 2 | $27,175 |
| 2010s | 15 | $289,862 |
| 2020s | 7 | $285,517 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Hurricane Hugo: 14 claims
- October severe storms: 7 claims
- Hurricane Ian: 6 claims
- Hurricane Irma: 3 claims
- Hurricane Matthew: 2 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 32
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 16
How much is flood insurance in Avondale?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in Avondale costs $949 a year: the median of 147 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $792 and $1,114. That is the full amount paid for the year, the premium plus FEMA’s fees and surcharges, and every one of these policies is priced under Risk Rating 2.0. A quote for one building can be far from this: its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price. Private flood insurance is not included.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3, computed October 25, 2026.
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Before you rent or buy in Avondale
- Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center; a neighborhood can mix high-risk and minimal-hazard zones.
- Ask the landlord or seller about past flooding and flood insurance claims at the property.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: new NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start (FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy).
- Ask which floor the unit is on and where parking, storage and mechanical equipment sit.
Living in Avondale
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Avondale with other Charleston neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Charleston on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Avondale flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Avondale have filed flood claims. About 2.9% of Avondale’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 48 claims from the Census block groups that cover Avondale, from 1979 through 2024. 30 of them received a payment, totaling $636,761 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 1989 (14 claims), 2015 (7 claims), 2022 (6 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Avondale in a flood zone?
About 2.9% of Avondale’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. Shares by zone: X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 73%; X (unshaded, minimal) 24%; AE 2.9%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect January 29, 2021.
Which streets in Avondale are in a high-risk flood zone?
Most of the length of Colony Dr lies in FEMA high-risk zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area). Less than 10% of Saint Andrews Blvd, Avondale Ave, Magnolia Rd, Bear Ave, Sycamore Ave, Hamilton Ave, US Hwy 17 and Rosedale Dr does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Avondale in?
Avondale is in Charleston, SC. ZIP codes 29407 and 29412: the ZIP codes on most of the flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. Check the specific address for its own flood zone.
Do renters need flood insurance?
Standard renters policies usually do not cover flood. Renters in a community that participates in the NFIP can buy contents-only flood coverage, up to $100,000 for belongings.
How long does a new flood policy take to start?
A new NFIP policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. Exceptions include no wait when the policy is bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage, and a one-day wait in a newly designated high-risk zone within 12 months of the map change.
How much coverage can NFIP provide?
For a one-to-four family home, NFIP building coverage goes up to $250,000 and contents coverage up to $100,000. You can buy flood insurance even if you are not in a high-risk zone, as long as your community participates in the NFIP.
How much is flood insurance in Avondale?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in Avondale cost $949 a year: the median of 147 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half cost between $792 and $1,114. One building’s quote can be far from this; its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price.
FAQ sources: FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy; FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025); 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
Nearby neighborhoods
- Does Oak Forest flood?
- Does Byrnes Downs flood?
- Does Saint Andrews flood?
- Does Ashleyville flood?
- Does The Crescent flood?
- Does Indigo Point flood?
How these numbers were made
Area: the census-based definition above, using U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names. Flood zone shares: the area polygon intersected with FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, area computed in an equal-area projection; retrieved October 25, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for Charleston County (county code 45019), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026. Claims are counted for exactly the block groups that make up the area. Block groups used: 450190029002. Neighboring pages can share a block group, so their counts can overlap. Paid totals add building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments and are not adjusted for inflation; a claim whose FEMA record shows a negative payment (an adjustment) counts as zero. See the methodology.
Sources
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims - v3. Retrieved on October 25, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on October 25, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
- FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
- FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy.
- FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025).
- 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
- OpenFEMA Terms and Conditions.
- FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads).
Data as of September 8, 2026 (FEMA claims) and October 25, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated October 25, 2026.