Skip to main content 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

## Utility (Top) navigation

-  About Us   **Forward **Back-  About Us
-  Mission & Vision
-  Leadership
-  Our Organization
-  Our Facilities
-  Regions

-  Laws & Regulations   **Forward **Back-  Laws & Regulations
-  Laws, Agreements & Treaties
-  Hunting Regulations

-  Library   **Forward **Back-  Library
-  Categories
-  Collections

                          -   Home 
                          -   Services   **Forward **Back-   Services 
-   Duck Stamps   **Forward **Back-   Duck Stamps 
-   Buy a Duck Stamp or E-Stamp 
-   Buy a Junior Duck Stamp 

-   Fish Stocking 
-   Importing & Exporting 
-   Consultation & Technical Assistance   **Forward **Back-   Consultation & Technical Assistance 
-   ESA Section 7 Consultation 
-   Habitat Conservation Planning (HCPs) 
-   Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA & CCAA) 
-   Safe Harbour Agreements (SHA) 
-   Conservation Banking 
-   Coastal Barrier Resources Act Project Consultation 
-   Coastal Barrier Resources System Property Documentation 

-   Financial Assistance 
-   Species Management 
-   Investigational New Animal Drugs (INADS) 
-   Permits 
-   Search All Services 
Duck StampsOne of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps.
                          -   Species   **Forward **Back-   Species 
-   Explore Taxonomic Tree 
-   Find a Species 
Interest storyBats: “The Coolest Mammals on Earth”
                          -   Visit Us   **Forward **Back-   Visit Us 
-   Events 
-   Recreation Passes 
-   Outdoor Recreation 
-   Where to Hunt 
-   Where to Fish 
-   Our Locations 
Scenic DrivesTour routes of great scenic drives on National Wildlife Refuges.
                          -   Get Involved   **Forward **Back-   Get Involved 
-   Careers and Internships 
-   Volunteering 
-   Friends Partnerships 
-   Learning Opportunities 
-   Education Programs 
-   Events 
-   Partnerships   **Forward **Back-   Partnerships 
-   Partnership Categories 
-   Partner List 

VolunteerSearch for volunteer opportunities around the country
                          -   Newsroom   **Forward **Back-   Newsroom 
-   Press Releases 
-   Congressional Testimony 
-   Media Contacts 
Wild ThingsNews about wonderful wild things and places
                          -   Initiatives   **Forward **Back-   Initiatives 
-   Combating Wildlife Trafficking 
-   Director's Priorities 
-   Climate Change 
-   Hunting 
-   Fishing 
-   Invasive Species 
-   Pollinators 
-   Protecting Wildlife 
Climate ActionFWS is taking steps to mitigate climate impacts
                          -   I want to   **Forward **Back-  I Want To
-   Report Wildlife Crime 
-   Do Business with FWS 
-   Volunteer 
-   Find a Job or Internship 
-   Visit a Refuge 
-   Buy a Duck Stamp 
-   Apply for a Permit 
-   Find Funding 
-   Find Training 
Wild workSearch employment opportunities with USFWS

## Search

Search

# Federal Flood Insurance and the Coastal Barrier Resources Act

The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) and its amendments prohibit most new federal expenditures and financial assistance that may have the effect of encouraging development or modification of coastal barriers **coastal barriers**** Learn more about coastal barrier landforms.  Learn more about coastal barriers  within the Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS). The main CBRA restriction affecting property owners is on federal flood insurance provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). NFIP insurance is generally prohibited within the CBRS with some exceptions.

Federal flood insurance is available within the CBRS if the subject structure **structure**** Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.  Learn more about structure  was constructed (or permitted and under construction) before the flood insurance prohibition date **flood insurance prohibition date**** A flood insurance prohibition date refers to the date on which the prohibition on Federal flood insurance first took effect for a given area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program uses this date to determine whether a structure located within the CBRS is eligible for Federal flood insurance. Federal flood insurance is available within the CBRS for structures that were constructed (or permitted and under construction) before the area’s flood insurance prohibition date (which is generally tied to the date that the area was first established as either a System Unit or OPA, but may differ in some cases). If an existing insured structure within the CBRS is substantially improved or damaged (i.e., more than 50 percent of the structure’s market value), its Federal flood insurance policy cannot be renewed).  Learn more about flood insurance prohibition date  for the area in question (which is included in the Service's CBRS determination letter and shown in the CBRS Mapper). If an existing insured structure within the CBRS is substantially improved or damaged (i.e., over 50 percent of the structure's market value), the Federal flood insurance policy cannot be renewed. For new or substantially improved structures located within an Otherwise Protected Area, federal flood insurance may be available if written documentation is provided certifying that the structure is used in a manner consistent with the purposes for which the area is protected (e.g., restroom facilities, visitors center, and employee housing within a park).

The NFIP has a Flood Insurance Manual (FIM) which is used primarily by insurers and agents selling and servicing flood insurance. The FIM contains information regarding eligibility for structures located within the CBRS and should be consulted prior to writing a flood insurance policy that may be affected by CBRA.

FEMA’s regulations implementing CBRA with regards to federal flood insurance eligibility can be found in 44 Code of Federal Regulations (PDF) (CFR) Part 71.

Note: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) does not have any information regarding private flood insurance and cannot provide recommendations for any particular insurance carrier. Please direct any flood insurance related questions to the NFIP.

## How to Determine Whether an Area is Within the CBRS

**Step 1**:  Learn whether a community contains CBRS units.

**Step 2:** If the community contains System Units or Otherwise Protected Areas of the CBRS, seek property documentation through the CBRS Validation Tool or an official CBRS Property Determination.

## Disclosure of a CBRS Designation

Property owners are generally made aware of the CBRS designation affecting their property when they obtain a mortgage that requires flood insurance. There is, however, no federal mandate for the disclosure of a CBRS designation by state and/or local officials or realtors at the time of purchase or construction. The Service encourages federal, state, and local officials to integrate CBRS data into their GIS platforms and other information systems so that it is readily available to community officials, developers, property owners, prospective buyers, and others. We also encourage public officials to consider including CBRS information in building permit forms, planning documents, and outreach materials. Such voluntary actions can help to increase awareness of the CBRS and associated prohibitions on Federal expenditures, which will help stakeholders make informed decisions about areas affected by CBRA.

Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

## Footer Menu - Employment

-  Careers & Internships
-  Contracting

## Footer Menu - Site Links

-  Leadership
-  Frequently Asked Questions
-  Contact FWS

## Footer Menu - Legal

-  Accessibility
-  Freedom of Information Act
-  Notices
-  Privacy Policy
-  Disclaimers
-  Information Quality
-  Vulnerability Disclosure Policy

## Footer Menu - External Links

-  DOI
-  USA.GOV

                    -  
                    -  
                    -  
                    -  
                    -  
                    -  

### You are exiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website

You are being directed to 

We do not guarantee that the websites we link to comply with Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act. Links also do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
I Understand. Take me there.