Flood Information

Rain in Contra Costa County is seasonal in nature. Generally, approximately 90 percent of the rainfall is received from November to April, and as a result of the intense concentration of rainwater, flooding usually occurs during those months.

Flood areas in the City of San Pablo identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as the 100-year floodplains area are mainly along San Pablo and Widcat Creeks, and along Rheem Creek at the west side of the City; 500-year floodplains extend further out from the 100-year floodplain edges. The 100-year floodplain is called the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), which are high risk areas.
In SFHA areas, there is at least a 1 in 4 chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage. Purchase of flood insurance is mandatory for buildings in the SFHA when a federally regulated lender holds the mortgage and any contents on the building as collateral for the loan. Owners of the properties situated outside the SFHA or 100-year floodplain, but are within the 500-year floodplain, have an option to purchase flood insurance.

FEMA releases an official map of a community that delineates both the SFHA and the risk premium zones applicable to the community called the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM).
FIRM Map
Interactive electronic copies of the FIRM map can easily be viewed by entering an address through their Flood Map Service Center; you can also click the image on the side.
The FIRM map:
  • Forms the basis for meeting floodplain management requirement;
  • Determines which buildings must carry flood insurance;
  • Assists in the calculation of flood insurance premium rates.

SFHA in San Pablo are labeled as "Zone A", "Zone AE" and "Zone AO". Depending on the lender's policy, coverage is required in the amount of the loan or for replacement cost.

Flood image_thumb.jpg

If only a portion of your property lot falls within Zone A and the building/s or structure/s do not lie within Zone A, you may not be required to carry flood insurance. Please contact us at (510) 215-3060 or stop by City Hall - Building 3 to find out if structures located on your property fall inside or outside of the flood zone.


FEMA update the FIRM maps approximately every five years and provide copies to local government agencies, such as the City of San Pablo; their last FIRM release is in 2015.


Below are resource links and informational guides.


 Flood Management: 

Flood Protection:


News and Announcements:

For more information for Claims Adjusters, Home Owners & Renters, Insurance Professionals and etc, check FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program webpage, or call them at 1-800-427-4661. Note that the map shown on the FEMA website may not have been updated.

You can see a more detailed map at City Hall, 1000 Gateway Avenue; Mon-Thur, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.