How to Use the Maximum FEMA Coverage Filter

Flood risk is one of the most overlooked variables in land investing, and one of the most expensive when missed. 

Properties located within FEMA-designated flood hazard areas can come with higher insurance costs, limited buildability, permitting challenges, or reduced resale demand. 

The FEMA Filter in Land Portal helps you quickly control for this risk by allowing you to filter properties based on how much of the parcel falls within FEMA flood zones.

Instead of manually checking flood maps one property at a time, you can define your acceptable flood-risk threshold up front and let Land Portal narrow the results for you.

Below is a step-by-step walkthrough showing how to apply the FEMA Filter, compare different coverage levels, and confirm that the filter is working correctly on individual properties.

Step-by-Step: Using the FEMA Filter

1. Log in to Land Portal

1. Go to Land Portal and log in using your account credentials.
2. Once logged in, open the Map Search to begin.

2. Set your location and basic search filters

1. At the top of Map Search, select your State.

   Narrow the search further by choosing a County, if desired.

   Add any additional filters you want to apply first, such as:

   • Acreage range
   • Property type (vacant, residential)
   • Road frontage, slope, etc

3. Access FEMA Filters

Scroll down until you see Maximum FEMA Coverage (%).

4. Understand the Maximum FEMA Coverage (%) setting

The Maximum FEMA Coverage (%) filter determines the maximum percentage of a parcel that can be located within a FEMA-designated flood hazard area and still appear in your results.

For example:

• A value of 80% allows properties with up to 80% FEMA coverage.
• A value of 10% allows only properties with 10% or less FEMA coverage.

Any parcel that exceeds the percentage you set will be excluded from the results.

Seeing the FEMA Filter in Action

Apply the filter with 80% FEMA coverage

1. Enter 80 in the Maximum FEMA Coverage (%) field.
2. Click Apply at the bottom of the filter panel.
3. Land Portal updates the map and list to show parcels where 80% or less of the land falls within FEMA flood zones.

This broader setting is useful when you are open to properties with partial flood exposure, such as parcels where flood zones affect only a portion of the land but still leave usable or buildable areas.

2Tighten the filter to 10% FEMA coverage

1. Reopen the Filters panel.
2. Change the Maximum FEMA Coverage (%) value from 80 to 10.
3. Click Apply again.

With this more restrictive setting, Land Portal removes any properties where more than 10% of the parcel is located within a FEMA flood zone. 

This results in a smaller, more conservative list focused on parcels with minimal flood exposure.

This comparison clearly shows how adjusting the FEMA percentage directly impacts which properties appear in your search results.

Confirming FEMA Coverage on a Property

Verify FEMA coverage using the property card

1. Click on any parcel that appears in your filtered results.
2. Open the Property Details panel.
3. Scroll to find FEMA Coverage (%).

This value shows the exact percentage of the parcel that overlaps FEMA flood hazard areas. 

For example, a property displaying 2.02% FEMA Coverage confirms that it meets both the 80% filter criteria, validating that the filter is working as intended.

Using the property card is a quick and reliable way to double-check flood exposure during your due diligence process.

Final Thoughts

The FEMA Filter gives you direct control over flood risk at the search level, helping you avoid high-risk properties before you ever click into them. 

By adjusting the Maximum FEMA Coverage (%), you can quickly compare broader opportunities against more conservative options and tailor your results to match your investment strategy.

Whether you’re screening for buildable lots, minimizing insurance concerns, or streamlining due diligence, the FEMA Filter makes flood-risk evaluation faster and more consistent. 

Log in to Land Portal and start using the FEMA Filter today to find land that fits your risk tolerance and investing goals.