Does Clearwater Beach flood?
Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, FL · ZIP code 33767: the ZIP code on 295 of the 326 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around Clearwater Beach have filed flood claims. About 89% of Clearwater Beach’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area (high-risk zones such as AE and VE). NFIP flood insurance records list 326 claims from the Census block groups that cover Clearwater Beach, from 1978 through 2024. 221 of them received a payment, totaling $11,692,934 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 1993 (132 claims), 2024 (83 claims), 1985 (48 claims).
What this page counts as Clearwater Beach
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for Clearwater Beach, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, Clearwater Beach 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 Clearwater Beach (feature 280544) and inside the Clearwater city limits (U.S. Census Bureau), 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 Clearwater Beach. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places boundaries (NRHP polygons) 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 Clearwater Beach
Neighborhood figures are averages. Our address check looks up the FEMA flood zone and the hurricane evacuation zone at one address, from the same public maps: check if your address is in a flood zone.
Flood zones street by street in Clearwater Beach
The named streets in Clearwater Beach, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Clearwater Beach lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Clearwater Beach; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater Memorial Cswy | 1.6 mi | 91% | AE (89%) |
| S Gulfview Blvd | 1.2 mi | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Island Way | 4,380 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Mandalay Ave | 4,190 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Poinsettia Ave | 3,200 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Bay Esplanade | 3,100 ft | 100% | AE (98%) |
| Bayway Blvd | 2,850 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Coronado Dr | 2,810 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Bayside Dr | 2,800 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Causeway Blvd | 2,380 ft | 93% | AE (76%) |
| S Hamden Dr | 2,380 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Larboard Way | 1,720 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Brightwater Dr | 1,700 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Windward Psge | 1,690 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| E Shore Dr | 1,680 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Clearwater Pass Ave | 1,480 ft | 75% | AE (44%) |
| Devon Dr | 1,420 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Papaya St | 1,060 ft | 100% | AE (94%) |
| Somerset St | 1,040 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Baymont St | 1,030 ft | 100% | AE (98%) |
| Gulfway Dr | 840 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Gulf Blvd | 810 ft | 55% | AE (55%) |
| Dory Psge | 800 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Dolphin Pt | 760 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Cyprus Ave | 730 ft | 100% | AE (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 29, 2026. Each street is clipped to the area boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in Clearwater Beach
Share of Clearwater Beach’s mapped area (about 5.169 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 13 feet. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (12103C0102H, 12103C0104H, 12103C0106J, 12103C0108J): August 24, 2021.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| VE | 49% |
| AE | 40% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 0.5% |
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 0.0% |
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 Clearwater Beach. 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 | 3 | $17,096 |
| 1980s | 68 | $226,277 |
| 1990s | 152 | $1,705,072 |
| 2000s | 12 | $12,980 |
| 2010s | 7 | $0 |
| 2020s | 84 | $9,731,508 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Blizzard of 1993: 131 claims
- Hurricane Helene: 81 claims
- Hurricane Elena: 48 claims
- Flooding: 7 claims
- Hurricane Jeanne: 6 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 265
- V/VE (coastal high hazard): 57
- Other (D): 2
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 1
- Not reported: 1
How much is flood insurance in Clearwater Beach?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in Clearwater Beach costs $3,276 a year: the median of 37 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $1,192 and $6,928. 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 29, 2026.
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Before you rent or buy in Clearwater Beach
- 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 Clearwater Beach
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Clearwater Beach with other Clearwater neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Clearwater on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Clearwater Beach flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Clearwater Beach have filed flood claims. About 89% of Clearwater Beach’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area (high-risk zones such as AE and VE). NFIP flood insurance records list 326 claims from the Census block groups that cover Clearwater Beach, from 1978 through 2024. 221 of them received a payment, totaling $11,692,934 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 1993 (132 claims), 2024 (83 claims), 1985 (48 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Clearwater Beach in a flood zone?
About 89% of Clearwater Beach’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area (high-risk zones such as AE and VE). Shares by zone: VE 49%; AE 40%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 0.5%; X (unshaded, minimal) 0.0%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect August 24, 2021.
Which streets in Clearwater Beach are in a high-risk flood zone?
Most of the length of Clearwater Memorial Cswy, S Gulfview Blvd, Island Way, Mandalay Ave, Poinsettia Ave, Bay Esplanade, Bayway Blvd, Coronado Dr, Bayside Dr, Causeway Blvd, S Hamden Dr and Larboard Way lies in FEMA high-risk zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area). Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Clearwater Beach in?
Clearwater Beach is in Clearwater, FL. ZIP code 33767: the ZIP code on 295 of the 326 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 Clearwater Beach?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in Clearwater Beach cost $3,276 a year: the median of 37 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half cost between $1,192 and $6,928. 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 Coachman flood?
- Bayview
How these numbers were made
Area: the census-based definition above, using U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places boundaries (NRHP polygons) 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 29, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for Pinellas County (county code 12103), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved October 29, 2026. Claims are counted for exactly the block groups that make up the area. Block groups used: 121030260013, 121030260023, 121030260022. 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 29, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places boundaries (NRHP polygons) 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 29, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated October 29, 2026.