Last reviewed: October 2026.

Educational only. This is not a quote or a promise of any premium change. Rating depends on the insurer’s rules, your documentation and underwriting.

NFIP premiums under FEMA’s current rating approach (Risk Rating 2.0) are built from the property’s characteristics, not just the flood zone. Below is an overview of items FEMA’s rules consider, drawn from FEMA’s NFIP Flood Insurance Manual (October 2025). Private flood companies use their own rating, and most don’t publish it.

Items FEMA’s rating considers

  • First-floor height. FEMA may use its own determined height or the height on an Elevation Certificate (EC). FEMA’s manual says it compares the two and uses the one that produces the lower premium, so submitting an EC doesn’t create a rating downside.
  • Foundation type. Slab, crawlspace, basement and elevated foundations are rated differently.
  • Machinery and equipment (M&E). FEMA’s rules include a factor for elevated equipment such as HVAC and water heaters. The rule’s documentation requirements changed on October 1, 2025.
  • Flood openings. Properly sized openings in enclosures and crawlspaces are recognized in FEMA’s rating.
  • Deductible. A higher deductible changes the premium, but it also means more out of pocket at claim time, and lowering it later is restricted. Check your lender’s maximum.
  • Community Rating System (CRS). Many Florida communities take part in FEMA’s CRS, which applies a discount class to NFIP policies there.
  • Annual increase limits. Some policies are still moving toward full-risk rates under a yearly cap. For those, a rating change may show up as a smaller increase rather than a lower bill.

Two dated figures for Gainesville and Alachua County

  • Yearly increase cap. Under federal law, most NFIP premiums can’t go up more than 18% a year until the policy reaches its full-risk rate. Some properties that still have older discounted rates, such as non-primary residences, business properties and severe repetitive loss properties, must go up 25% a year until they reach full-risk rates. The cap doesn’t apply when you add coverage or lower your deductible, and fees and surcharges aren’t part of it (42 U.S.C. §4015(e); FEMA NFIP Flood Insurance Manual, October 2025).
  • Local CRS classes. On FEMA’s list of CRS communities effective October 1, 2026, unincorporated Alachua County is Class 5 (a 25% discount on NFIP policies) and the City of Gainesville is Class 6 (a 20% discount). Other cities in Alachua County don’t currently take part in the CRS. FEMA updates the list each April and October.

For a policy still moving toward its full-risk rate under the cap, a CRS discount may show up as a smaller increase rather than a lower bill (FEMA CRS discount FAQ, September 2024). This is general information, not a quote.

Elevation certificates

Elevation certificates completed since January 1, 2023 are in Florida’s statewide database (FDEM). Your city or county floodplain office may have older ones. ECs are optional for NFIP coverage.

Mitigation and grants

Homeowners generally can’t apply to FEMA directly for mitigation grants. Programs are run through the State and your local government, so start with your county or city floodplain office.

Questions?

We can walk through how your current flood declarations page was rated. Call (352) 371-7977 or contact us.

Sources

  • FEMA, NFIP Flood Insurance Manual (Oct 2025): https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/work-with-nfip/manuals/current
  • FEMA, Risk Rating 2.0: https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/risk-rating
  • FEMA Community Rating System: https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/community-rating-system
  • Florida Division of Emergency Management, elevation certificates: https://www.floridadisaster.org/elevation-certificates/
  • 42 U.S.C. §4015(e), annual limitation on premium increases: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/4015
  • FEMA, NFIP Flood Insurance Manual (October 2025), “Statutory Annual Increase Cap”: https://agents.floodsmart.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2025-09/fema_nfip-FloodInsuranceManual-October2025-508c.pdf
  • FEMA, Risk Rating 2.0 (April 2025): https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_rr-2.0_04-2025.pdf
  • FEMA, CRS eligible communities (effective October 1, 2026), via https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/community-rating-system ; CRS discount FAQ (Sept 2024): https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema-nfip-community-rating-system-discount-faq-09-2024.pdf
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General information, not legal or coverage advice. Coverage depends on the policy issued, its terms and underwriting. Requirements current as of October 2026; confirm with your agent, insurer or Citizens. McGriff-Williams Insurance is an independent insurance agency licensed in Florida. We are not affiliated with FEMA, the NFIP or Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.