Does Melbourne Beach flood?
Melbourne Beach, Palm Bay, FL · ZIP code 32951: the ZIP code on 94 of the 97 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around Melbourne Beach have filed flood claims. About 35% of Melbourne Beach’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 97 claims from the Census block groups that cover Melbourne Beach, from 1979 through 2022. 33 of them received a payment, totaling $516,399 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2004 (28 claims), 1999 (21 claims), 2008 (11 claims).
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 Melbourne Beach
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 Melbourne Beach
The named streets in Melbourne Beach, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Melbourne Beach lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Melbourne 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. 20 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak St | 1.9 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Atlantic St | 1.3 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Hibiscus Trl | 5,010 ft | 11% | X (unshaded, minimal) (88%) |
| Pine St | 4,560 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (52%) |
| Sunset Blvd | 4,400 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Riverside Dr | 4,270 ft | 14% | X (unshaded, minimal) (75%) |
| Orange St | 3,490 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Banyan Way | 3,300 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Ave A | 2,860 ft | 1.4% | X (unshaded, minimal) (99%) |
| Surf Rd | 2,830 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (87%) |
| 1st Ave | 2,820 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| 3rd Ave | 2,810 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (89%) |
| 2nd Ave | 2,800 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (88%) |
| 5th Ave | 2,790 ft | 0.8% | X (unshaded, minimal) (90%) |
| B Ave | 2,750 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Ocean Ave | 2,740 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| 4th Ave | 2,740 ft | 2.8% | X (unshaded, minimal) (89%) |
| Riverview Ln | 2,740 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (92%) |
| 6th Ave | 2,730 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (89%) |
| Magnolia Ave | 2,450 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Poinsetta Rd | 2,160 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Cherry Dr | 2,130 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| S Shannon Ave | 2,090 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Andrews Dr | 1,890 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Rosewood Dr | 1,650 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (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 November 2, 2026. Each street is clipped to the neighborhood boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in Melbourne Beach
Share of Melbourne Beach’s mapped area (about 3.628 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 4 to 13 feet. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (12009C0604H, 12009C0608H, 12009C0612H, 12009C0616H): January 29, 2021.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 61% |
| VE | 32% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 4.4% |
| AE | 2.4% |
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 Melbourne Beach. About 46% of the combined area of those block groups lies inside Melbourne Beach, so the claim figures also reflect some nearby blocks. Several of these block groups extend over open water, which the Census includes in block-group boundaries; counting land only (Census land and water areas), about 100% lies inside Melbourne Beach. Only insured properties appear, so these counts understate total flooding.
By decade
| Decade | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2 | $0 |
| 1980s | 6 | $114,580 |
| 1990s | 31 | $49,228 |
| 2000s | 45 | $110,152 |
| 2010s | 12 | $242,439 |
| 2020s | 1 | $0 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Hurricane Frances: 21 claims
- Hurricane Irene: 16 claims
- Tropical Storm Fay: 11 claims
- Hurricane Irma: 8 claims
- Flooding: 8 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 78
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 13
- V/VE (coastal high hazard): 6
How much is flood insurance in Melbourne Beach?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in Melbourne Beach costs $1,261 a year: the median of 317 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $1,084 and $1,308. 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 November 2, 2026.
Why home insurance costs what it does in Melbourne Beach
This section is educational and is not insurance advice.
Fire and wind
- USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities gives Palm Bay, FL a Risk to Homes national percentile rank of 0.963, which its methods call Very High (above the 90th percentile). That is the city rating, not a rating of Melbourne Beach alone. The summary file is dated April 15, 2026.
The insurance market in Florida
- Citizens Property Insurance Corporation: 09.30.26 254,836 Policies in Force
What to ask your agent
- Ask the agent how old the roof is.
- Ask whether a wind-mitigation discount is available for this house.
- Ask how flood coverage differs from the homeowners policy. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood. Flood coverage is a separate policy.
- Ask whether the policy has a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible, and how that deductible is calculated.
- Ask when coverage would start. A new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase.
Flood coverage and the 30-day wait: FEMA fact sheet, Jan. 21, 2025; 44 CFR 61.11.
How big is the last-resort insurance plan in Florida?
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation: 09.30.26 254,836 Policies in Force
What should I ask an insurance agent about a home in Melbourne Beach?
Ask the agent how old the roof is. Ask whether a wind-mitigation discount is available for this house. Ask how flood coverage differs from the homeowners policy. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood. Flood coverage is a separate policy. Ask whether the policy has a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible, and how that deductible is calculated. Ask when coverage would start. A new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase.
Sources: USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities, community summaries; Wildfire Risk to Communities methods; Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Policies in Force.
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Before you rent or buy in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Beach
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Melbourne Beach with other Palm Bay neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Palm Bay on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Melbourne Beach flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Melbourne Beach have filed flood claims. About 35% of Melbourne Beach’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 97 claims from the Census block groups that cover Melbourne Beach, from 1979 through 2022. 33 of them received a payment, totaling $516,399 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2004 (28 claims), 1999 (21 claims), 2008 (11 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Melbourne Beach in a flood zone?
About 35% of Melbourne Beach’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) 61%; VE 32%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 4.4%; AE 2.4%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect January 29, 2021.
Which streets in Melbourne Beach 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 Oak St, Atlantic St, Pine St, Sunset Blvd, Orange St, Banyan Way, Ave A and Surf Rd does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Melbourne Beach in?
Melbourne Beach is in Palm Bay, FL. ZIP code 32951: the ZIP code on 94 of the 97 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 Melbourne Beach?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in Melbourne Beach cost $1,261 a year: the median of 317 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half cost between $1,084 and $1,308. 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 Indialantic flood?
- Does Melbourne flood?
- Does Palm Bay flood?
- Malabar
- Does West Melbourne flood?
- Does Grant-Valkaria flood?
How these numbers were made
Neighborhood boundary: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and Census Designated Places (TIGERweb). Flood zone shares: the neighborhood polygon intersected with FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, area computed in an equal-area projection; retrieved November 2, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for Brevard County (county code 12009), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved November 2, 2026. A 2010 Census block group is counted for a neighborhood when at least 25% of the block group lies inside the neighborhood, or at least 25% of the neighborhood lies inside the block group. Block groups used: 120090661012 (100.0% of the block group is inside Melbourne Beach), 120090661011 (28.4% of the block group is inside Melbourne Beach), 120090661013 (42.6% of the block group is inside Melbourne Beach). 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 November 2, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on November 2, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and Census Designated Places (TIGERweb).
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups.
- 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.
- USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities, community summaries.
- Wildfire Risk to Communities methods.
- Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Policies in Force.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads).
Data as of September 8, 2026 (FEMA claims) and November 2, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated November 2, 2026.