FEMA Revised Mapping of the Special Flood Hazard Area
On December 10, 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued the Letter of Final Determination (LFD) for the City of Santa Barbara. The preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) within the City of Santa Barbara will become effective on June 10, 2026.
Review preliminary Flood Hazard Zone changes with our City of Santa Barbara Interactive Flood Hazard Map
The City of Santa Barbara currently participates in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP makes flood insurance available to residents, makes the City eligible for pre-disaster grants and assistance to apply towards adaptation projects to minimize risks, and makes the City eligible for disaster relief assistance. Click on the links below to learn more.
- FEMA FIRM Panels
- Open House Video Recording - YouTube (July 9th, 2024)
- Additional Information on Flood Hazard Determination Notices and Appeal Periods
- FEMA Official Flood Map Changes Viewer
- FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
- General Map Related Questions | FEMA Map Information Exchange | http://msc.fema.gov/ | Toll-Free: 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627)
- General Info from FEMA-NFIP | http://www.floodsmart.gov. | 1-800-427-4661
- If you have questions regarding the changes, need a Flood Hazard Determination letter, or have basic questions about how to get flood insurance, please contact FloodHazard@SantaBarbaraCA.Gov
Acronyms
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
FIRM - Flood Insurance Rate Map
LOMA - Letter of Map Amendment
LOMR - Letter of Map Revision
NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
NFHL – National Flood Hazard Layer
SFHA - Special Flood Hazard Area
SOMA - Summary of Map Actions
If you have questions about a parcel that is not within the jurisdiction of the City of Santa Barbara, please contact County of Santa Barbara Floodplain Management Section at (805) 568-3440 or visit www.countyofsb.org/2158/FEMA-Remapping.