Does Lake Forest flood?
Lake Forest, Jacksonville, FL · ZIP code 32208: the ZIP code on 91 of the 92 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around Lake Forest have filed flood claims. About 42% of Lake Forest’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 92 claims from the Census block groups that cover Lake Forest, from 1998 through 2022. 76 of them received a payment, totaling $3,109,291 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2017 (40 claims), 2008 (13 claims), 2022 (12 claims).
What this page counts as Lake Forest
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for Lake Forest, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest (feature 285236), 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 Lake Forest. 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 Lake Forest
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 Lake Forest
The named streets in Lake Forest, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Lake Forest lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Lake Forest; 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. 29 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-95 | 3.1 mi | 12% | X (unshaded, minimal) (88%) |
| Lem Turner Rd | 1.0 mi | 11% | X (unshaded, minimal) (85%) |
| Edgewood Ave W | 1.0 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (94%) |
| E Concord Blvd | 4,710 ft | 28% | X (unshaded, minimal) (39%) |
| Calvin St | 4,320 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| W Concord Blvd | 4,140 ft | 37% | X (unshaded, minimal) (48%) |
| Paul Jones Dr | 4,120 ft | 15% | X (unshaded, minimal) (71%) |
| Pickett St | 3,440 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Bunker Hill Blvd | 3,340 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Linda Dr | 3,330 ft | 12% | X (unshaded, minimal) (80%) |
| Lake Forest Blvd | 3,230 ft | 2.5% | X (unshaded, minimal) (91%) |
| Kennard St | 3,100 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Delaware Ave | 2,560 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (50%) |
| Marion St | 2,420 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Saratoga Blvd | 2,420 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Lexington Dr | 2,230 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (68%) |
| Lueders Ave | 2,220 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Brandywine St | 1,940 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Gardenia Ln | 1,910 ft | 30% | X (unshaded, minimal) (60%) |
| Valley Forge Rd | 1,590 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Norwood Ave | 1,550 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Cornwallis Dr | 1,420 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Monmouth Way | 1,400 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (73%) |
| Stark St | 1,240 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Reid Ave | 1,220 ft | 0.7% | X (unshaded, minimal) (95%) |
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 Lake Forest
Share of Lake Forest’s mapped area (about 3.677 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 5 to 7 feet. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (12031C0191J, 12031C0193J): November 2, 2018.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 52% |
| AE | 32% |
| VE | 9.7% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 6.7% |
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 Lake Forest. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3 | $5,679 |
| 2000s | 27 | $331,194 |
| 2010s | 49 | $2,317,448 |
| 2020s | 13 | $454,971 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Hurricane Irma: 38 claims
- Tropical Storm Fay: 13 claims
- Hurricane Nicole: 11 claims
- Hurricane Jeanne: 8 claims
- Hurricane Matthew: 4 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 69
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 23
How much is flood insurance in Lake Forest?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in Lake Forest costs $1,346 a year: the median of 69 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $1,110 and $2,318. 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.
Insurance agency or real estate agent? Sponsor this page.
Before you rent or buy in Lake Forest
- 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 Lake Forest
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Lake Forest with other Jacksonville neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Jacksonville on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Lake Forest flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Lake Forest have filed flood claims. About 42% of Lake Forest’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 92 claims from the Census block groups that cover Lake Forest, from 1998 through 2022. 76 of them received a payment, totaling $3,109,291 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2017 (40 claims), 2008 (13 claims), 2022 (12 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Lake Forest in a flood zone?
About 42% of Lake Forest’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 (unshaded, minimal) 52%; AE 32%; VE 9.7%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 6.7%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect November 2, 2018.
Which streets in Lake Forest are in a high-risk flood zone?
No street listed here has most of its length in FEMA high-risk zones. Less than 10% of Edgewood Ave W, Calvin St, Pickett St, Bunker Hill Blvd, Lake Forest Blvd, Kennard St, Delaware Ave and Marion St does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Lake Forest in?
Lake Forest is in Jacksonville, FL. ZIP code 32208: the ZIP code on 91 of the 92 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 Lake Forest?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in Lake Forest cost $1,346 a year: the median of 69 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half cost between $1,110 and $2,318. 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
- Norwood
- Does Riverview flood?
- Does North Shore flood?
- Does Highlands flood?
- Brentwood
- Does Beverly Hills 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 Duval County (county code 12031), 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: 120310111002, 120310111001. 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.