Short answer: San Francisco County's FEMA National Risk Index report ranks hazards for the city. The California FAIR Plan is the residual property market when admitted writers will not take you. Soft-story retrofit and limited WUI rules can affect underwriting, and California requires liability insurance to drive.
This guide is general information for homeowners and drivers in the San Francisco area (San Francisco County). It isn't legal advice or a coverage determination. Your policy wording, underwriting, city and county ordinances, and state insurance and motor-vehicle rules control. Check your address on FEMA's National Risk Index (county report for San Francisco County) and the Flood Map Service Center.
Local hazards: FEMA National Risk Index for San Francisco County
Open FEMA's National Risk Index and the San Francisco County report.
Federal disaster declarations in San Francisco County
Since 1989, San Francisco County has been part of 6 federal major disaster declarations, according to FEMA's declarations summaries; by incident type the most common were severe storm events (4), flood events (1) and earthquake events (1). The most recent: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, 2023, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, 2023, Severe Winter Storms and Flooding, 1998 and Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Landslides, 1997. FEMA also lists 3 emergency declarations for the county in the same data.
Two different flood maps
San Francisco has two flood maps that measure different risks. FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Map covers coastal flooding from the Bay and the Pacific. Its high-risk zones (AE, VE and AO) run along the shoreline, and the Port's piers are mapped as Zone D. FEMA didn't map street flooding from heavy rain, because the city's old creeks are buried. That risk appears on the SFPUC's 100-Year Storm Flood Risk Map. A house can look low-risk on one map and high-risk on the other, so check both on the Property Information Map under Environmental Information.
When flood insurance is required
The city says flood insurance is required only if your property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area and has a federally backed or federally regulated mortgage. Everyone else can still buy a policy. The city encourages people in low-risk areas to buy one too, because standard homeowners and renters policies don't cover flood damage. That includes the street flooding the FEMA map leaves out. You can request a flood zone designation letter from the floodplain administrator at [email protected].
Big remodels in a flood zone
Under the city's Floodplain Management Ordinance, new construction in a FEMA flood hazard zone, or work costing more than 50% of a structure's market value, needs a Flood Hazard Zone Protection Checklist stamped by a California-licensed engineer or architect and attached to the building permit. Ask your agent whether ordinance-or-law coverage would pay for the added cost of meeting those standards after a covered loss.
Residual market: California FAIR Plan
The California FAIR Plan provides basic residual property coverage when voluntary markets will not write eligible risks. Liability is typically wrapped separately. Apply through a licensed California agent.
Soft-story retrofit and limited WUI
Confirm your parcel's fire-severity zone with the City.
Auto: California 30/60/15
Policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 must carry at least $30,000/$60,000/$15,000 liability under SB 1107 (California DMV); San Francisco drivers who last renewed before then move to the new floor at renewal.
Questions? Contact Alishahi Insurance or call (877) 711-4545. See insurance in California.
Frequently asked questions
Does San Francisco use the California FAIR Plan?
Yes, statewide—including SF—when admitted markets will not write eligible risks.
What local building rule often affects SF underwriting?
Soft-story seismic retrofit requirements for many wood-frame multi-unit buildings—check DBI.
Does a San Francisco homeowners policy cover flood?
No; flood needs a separate policy.
Alishahi Insurance · 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · (877) 711-4545 · CA License #4348151. General information only. This isn't legal, tax or financial advice or a coverage determination. Coverage depends on policy language and underwriting, and rules vary by state.