How does the Community Rating System work?
The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) initiative that discounts flood insurance premiums in communities that go beyond the NFIP's minimum floodplain management standards. Communities are ranked from Class 10, with no discount, to Class 1, with a 45% discount.
For policies in Special Flood Hazard Areas, Class 9 earns 5%, Class 8 earns 10%, and each class improvement adds another 5%. FEMA notes that class changes take effect on April 1 and October 1 each year.[1][2]
What are the published classes for these cities?
The Delray Beach and West Palm Beach figures below come from Palm Beach County's chart with an April 1, 2024 effective date, which also says 31 of the county's 39 municipalities participate in the CRS. For Lighthouse Point, Pompano Beach or Deerfield Beach, ask the city's floodplain or building department for its current class.
- Fort Lauderdale: the city's CRS page says it is currently Class 7, with a 15% discount for properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zones AE, AO, AH and VE) and 10% for Zone X.
- Delray Beach: Class 6, 20% discount in the Special Flood Hazard Area (class effective October 1, 2020).
- West Palm Beach: Class 5, 25% discount in the Special Flood Hazard Area (class effective October 1, 2018).
- Unincorporated Palm Beach County: Class 5, 25% discount.[3][4]
How do you check a specific property's flood zone?
FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood hazard information, and you can search it by address to find the flood map for a property. In Fort Lauderdale, the city's Floodplain Group provides free flood zone determinations for properties in the city, and new or substantially improved buildings must have the lowest floor elevated no lower than the Base Flood Elevation.
Lighthouse Point describes itself as a flood-prone area; its Building Department keeps elevation certificates for some floodplain properties and provides them on request (954-943-6509). A CRS class sets the community discount, so ask a licensed insurance agent for a quote on the specific property.[5][3][6]
Key takeaways
- The CRS gives NFIP flood insurance discounts ranging from 5% at Class 9 to 45% at Class 1.
- Fort Lauderdale reports Class 7, which means a 15% discount in Special Flood Hazard Areas.
- Palm Beach County's April 2024 chart lists Delray Beach at Class 6 (20%) and West Palm Beach at Class 5 (25%).
- Class changes take effect April 1 and October 1, so confirm the current class before you buy.
- Use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and local floodplain offices to check a property's flood zone.
Sources
- [1]FEMA — Community Rating System
- [2]FEMA — National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System fact sheet
- [3]City of Fort Lauderdale — Community Rating System
- [4]Palm Beach County Emergency Management — Planning: Community Rating System (CRS)
- [5]FEMA — Flood Map Service Center
- [6]City of Lighthouse Point — Flood Information
Reviewed October 11, 2026. General real-estate information for Florida, not legal, tax, lending or insurance advice. Laws, rates and deadlines change — confirm property-specific facts with the agency cited, a Florida real-estate attorney, CPA or licensed insurance agent.