Blog > Palo Alto Flood Zones by Neighborhood: Where FEMA’s High-Risk Zones Are
Palo Alto Flood Zones by Neighborhood: Where FEMA’s High-Risk Zones Are
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FEMA’s flood maps put part of Palo Alto in high-risk flood zones. We checked the center of each of the city’s 14,625 single-family house parcels against FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer: 4,109 of them (28%) sit in a high-risk zone (A, AE or AH). Here is where they are, by neighborhood guide. FEMA’s map data and the City of Palo Alto’s parcel records are as of October 21, 2026. There are no addresses here.
The short answer
- Most Palo Alto houses are outside the high-risk zones: 10,516 (72%) are in zone X.
- By zone: 2,175 in AE, 1,697 in AH and 237 in A.
- Three neighborhoods hold 74% of the high-risk houses: Midtown (1,094, 43% of its houses), Crescent Park (1,010, 85% of its houses) and Duveneck / St. Francis (924, 74% of its houses).
- No high-risk houses in Charleston Gardens, Charleston Meadows, College Terrace, Esther Clark Park, Evergreen Park, Fairmeadow, Green Acres, Monroe Park, Old Palo Alto, Palo Alto Hills, Professorville, Southgate and University South.
Next steps in Palo Alto
- What’s my Palo Alto home worth? Request an estimate, and ask us for the recent sales on your street.
- See Palo Alto homes for sale, then use Save Search to get new listings by email.
- Book a strategy call with a Property Nerd.
Neighborhood by neighborhood
Single-family houses in zones A, AE or AH inside each guide’s outline, the share of the guide’s houses they make up, and the zones. Some guides sit inside others, so a house can count in two.
| Neighborhood | High-risk houses | Share of the guide’s houses | Zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midtown | 1,094 | 43% | A 9, AE 1,085 |
| Crescent Park | 1,010 | 85% | A 97, AH 913 |
| Duveneck / St. Francis | 924 | 74% | A 95, AE 175, AH 654 |
| Palo Verde | 568 | 68% | A 1, AE 567 |
| Adobe Meadow & Meadow Park | 272 | 66% | A 1, AE 271 |
| Leland Manor / Garland | 79 | 11% | AE 62, AH 17 |
| Downtown North | 68 | 48% | AH 68 |
| Community Center | 54 | 12% | A 4, AH 50 |
| Triple El | 29 | 43% | AE 29 |
| Barron Park | 13 | 1% | A 13 |
| South of Midtown | 8 | 1% | A 8 |
| Ventura | 3 | 1% | A 3 |
| Greenmeadow | 1 | under 1% | A 1 |
What the zones mean
- Zone A: a 1%-a-year chance of flooding, where FEMA hasn’t set a base flood elevation.
- Zone AE: the same 1%-a-year risk, with a base flood elevation set.
- Zone AH: shallow ponding, usually 1 to 3 feet deep, with the same 1%-a-year risk and a base flood elevation.
- Zone X: moderate to minimal risk, outside the 1%-a-year floodplain.
- Insurance: if the house itself is in an A or V zone, lenders on federally backed mortgages require flood insurance; a flood zone determination for the address settles it. In zone X it’s optional.
Reading it right
- We checked the center of each parcel. A parcel can straddle two zones; the city’s own parcel records agree with our zone for 99% of houses where they give a single zone.
- The zone covers the land, not the house. A house can sit above the base flood elevation even in a high-risk zone. An elevation certificate settles it and can lower the insurance price.
- Maps change. FEMA revises its maps, and letters of map change can move a single property. Check the current FEMA map for the exact address.
- Zone X isn’t zero risk. Flooding can happen outside the high-risk zones.
- Only single-family houses are counted; condos, townhomes and apartments aren’t.
Go deeper
Palo Alto Neighborhoods by Their Houses uses the same parcel records for age, rebuilds and lots, and Palo Alto Neighborhoods Ranked by Price per Square Foot shows recent sale prices. The Palo Alto city guide links every neighborhood guide. Flood & Fire Zones by Neighborhood counts homes in FEMA flood zones and CAL FIRE fire zones for 469 neighborhood guides across Silicon Valley, the Peninsula and San Francisco.
The Palo Alto data series: housing market by the numbers · neighborhoods ranked by price per sq ft · where homes sell over asking · ten years of prices by neighborhood · condos and townhomes · house prices by bedrooms · houses under $3M · houses at $5M and up · the best month to sell · the most expensive streets · houses by neighborhood · our sales map
Buying or selling in a flood zone?
A Property Nerd can pull the zone, any elevation certificate and the insurance history for a specific home before you write an offer or set a price. Call (408) 373-1660 or (650) 383-8606, or book a strategy call. Commissions are negotiable, and we offer bundled services, so ask us what’s included.