I updated this post HERE.

The last updates to the FIRM flood maps for Jupiter Farms was October 2017.  Since that time all of Jupiter Farms has been a Flood Zone = X.  (Note, this is NOT the same as the shaded Zone X.) Flood Zone X represents areas outside the 500-year flood plain with less than 0.2% annual probability of flooding. This is NOT in the Special Flood Hazard Area and thus lenders do not require flood insurance. Palm Beach Country Estates does have an area in Flood Zone = AE which is in the SFHA.

In general the flow of water in Jupiter Farms is from the property, into a swale along the street, then into collector canals, and then the main canals and out to the ocean.  As one goes further from the main canals the level of maintenance decreases and thus there are properties in the farms which will flood with a heavy rain but basically this is because a property ‘downstream’ of the subject has not maintained the flow path.

BUT LOOK AT THE FLOOD MAPS TOO!!!  In particular the old maps showed the differences in elevation much more so than the current ones.  Also, flood insurance rating is based on the elevation of your lowest living area.  Some houses in Jupiter Farms have key west style stilt houses but most are an elevated slabs on grade.  Read THIS POST on how much fill one can add to a lot.

The flood zone names have changed so here’s what you’ll see on the county & FEMA web site and how it corresponds,  IN GENERAL.  You will search for your property and see “Effective Flood Zone (October 2017): X”  Most of the Farms shows as a non-printed flood map boundary on the FEMA web site.

Shaded Zone X is a moderate risk areas within the 0.2-percent-annual-chance floodplain, areas of 1-percent-annual-chance flooding where average depths are less than 1 foot, areas of 1-percent-annual-chance flooding where the contributing drainage area is less than 1 square mile, and areas protected from the 1-percent-annual-chance flood by a levee. No BFEs or base flood depths are shown within these zones. (Zone X (shaded) is used on new and revised maps in place of Zone B.)

Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). An area having special flood, mudflow or flood-related erosion hazards and shown on a Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) or a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Zone A, AO, A1-A30, AE, A99, AH, AR, AR/A, AR/AE, AR/AH, AR/AO, AR/A1-A30, V1-V30, VE or V. For the purpose of determining Community Rating System (CRS) premium discounts, all AR and A99 zones are treated as non-SFHAs.