source:
  type: guide
  id: va-m26-7-ch12-t08
  authority: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 12, Topic 8 — Special
    Flood Hazard Area
  description: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 12, Topic 8 — Special
    Flood Hazard Area.
  coverage_tier: operative
obligations:
- id: va-m26-7-ch12-t08-full
  canonical_id: va-m26-7-ch12-t08-full
  section: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 12, Topic 8 — Special Flood
    Hazard Area
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - va
  - va-handbook
  - corpus-expansion
  - tier-operative
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 12, Topic 8 — Special
      Flood Hazard Area
    source_class: va-handbook
    source_url: https://www.benefits.va.gov/warms/pam26_7.asp
    snapshot_id: 824171a914866a59
    fetched_at: '2026-05-23T01:53:53Z'
    content_hash: sha256:71efd8bb39bb5596ad194f1b13e6f979cfa1afbf5566e897e26836fc1ab0429e
    paragraph_quote: '8. Special Flood Hazard Area Change Date October 18, 2019 •
      This chapter has been revised in its entirety. a. Flood Insurance Properties
      located in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) must be covered by a flood
      insurance policy. Properties located in a SFHA are not eligible if flood insurance
      is not available. b. Regular Flooding Based on the appraiser’s knowledge of
      the market area, properties that are subject to regular flooding are not eligible,
      whether or not the area has been designated an SFHA. c. Verification of Flood
      Zone While appraisers must provide flood zone information on the appraisal report,
      flood zone maps do not typically indicate the location of specific properties.
      Lenders are responsible for verifying the flood zone information. d. Flood Zones
      SFHAs are usually designated Zones A, AO, AH, A1-A30, AE, A99, AR, AR/AE, AR/AO,
      AR/A1-A30, AR/A, V, VE, and V1-V30. Flood insurance is not required in Zones
      B, C, X, and D. e. Excluding Non- Residential Improvements At the Veteran’s
      request, non-residential improvements such as detached garages and small sheds
      may be excluded from the flood insurance policy if they are also excluded from
      the appraised value. The cost of flood insurance with and without coverage for
      the detached building should be compared as excluding a detached building may
      not be worthwhile. f. Private Flood Insurance Veterans may elect to obtain private
      flood insurance instead of obtaining flood insurance through the National Flood
      Insurance Program. VA Pamphlet 26-7, Revised Chapter 12: Minimum Property Requirements
      12-14'
  judgment: false
