If you are a policyholder of FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program and experienced recent flooding, visit How Do I Start My Claim to learn more about how to file your flood insurance claim.

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Rebuild better after a flood

If your home or business was badly or repeatedly damaged by a flood, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage that can help you rebuild after a flood. 

Interior of home under construction
On this page:

ICC coverage eligibility

  • You are an NFIP policyholder;

  • The building is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA);

  • Your community building department determines your home is substantially* or repetitively** damaged by flooding –as defined by the NFIP—, the determination was made when you apply for a building permit with the community before you begin repairing your home or business; and 

  • The flood damage to your building is equal to 50% or more of the pre-flood market value.

    *Substantially damaged means damage where the cost of restoring the structure to its before damaged condition would equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred. If the total damage is less than 50% of the market value, ICC coverage is not available. 

    **Repetitively damaged means the building must have flood damage on at least two occasions during a 10-year period; the cost of which to repair the flood damage, on average, equaled or exceeded 25% of the market value of the building on each occasion. 

Elevate your building for future flood protection.

Hear from the NFIP policyholder who owns an Old Post Office in Londonderry, Vermont. She elevated the building which later withstood flood damage "beautifully."

ICC coverage by the numbers

$30,000

NFIP policyholders that qualify for ICC coverage can receive up to $30,000 to help cover the cost of mitigation measures to reduce flood damage.

50%

To qualify for ICC coverage, the cost of repairs needs to be at least 50% of the building’s pre-damage value.

2 floods

If a building has flooded twice in 10 years and the cost to repair was at least 25% of the market value, it may qualify for ICC coverage.

The process of an ICC claim

If your building is determined to be substantially or repetitively damaged, discuss with your local official what mitigation activities will be required to rebuild in the floodplain and if any grants are available.

You must file an ICC claim separately from your building or contents claim under your Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP). To start an ICC claim you’ll need to: 

  • Get the determination from your community that your home or business has been substantially or repetitively damaged by a flood. Check with your community to learn if there is a repetitive loss provision.
  • Meet the floodplain management ordinances explained by your local government official. 
  • Contact your insurance agency or agent. They will assign a claims representative who will help you. 
  • Get estimates from contractors to take the necessary steps to elevate, relocate, floodproof (if it’s not a home) or demolish. 

You may be able to receive up to $15,000 in advance after submitting a copy of these documents to your claims representative: 

  • A signed contract for the work; 
  • A permit from the community to do the work; and 
  • A signed copy of the ICC Proof of Loss.

Once the work is done, local officials will complete an inspection and issue a certificate of occupancy or a confirmation letter. Next, send your completion letter to your insurer to get the final installment or full payment. If the work isn’t completed, you must return any partial payment to your insurer.

Helpful links to support your recovery

  • Start a flood insurance claim
    Minor flooding in a house

    ICC claims are not the same as flood insurance claims. If qualified, you will need to file both.

    How to start a claim
  • Stay safe while beginning cleanup
    Las manos de las mujeres revisan una lista de verificación

    Use the NFIP’s flood recovery checklist to recover after floods quickly and safely.

    View the checklist
  • Stories of rebuilding
    Woman staring at man

    Hear from NFIP policyholders how flood insurance helped them recover after floods.

    Watch their stories

FAQs about rebuilding smarter and safer

ICC coverage is included under the SFIP and it helps NFIP policyholders with the costs if they are required by the community building department to meet rebuilding standards after a flood to reduce future flood damage. It helps you to raise, move, floodproof (if it’s not a home) or rebuild your home after a flood. 

Up to $30,000 in ICC coverage may be available for NFIP policyholders. However, the total amount paid for flood damage and ICC coverage can’t exceed the building coverage limit. 

ICC can help pay the cost of one or any combination of these activities: 

  • Elevate above the flood level required by your community. 
  • Relocate to a new site.
  • Demolish the building. 
  • Floodproof the building, if it’s not a home. 

You can use one or more, talk with your local floodplain management official to find the option that suits you best. 

If you receive a declaration from your local floodplain management official that your home is substantially or repetitively damaged, you may file a claim for your ICC coverage.

Your ICC claim is adjusted separately from the flood damage claim under your SFIP. You can only file an ICC claim if your community says your home or business has been substantially or repetitively damaged by a flood. A local floodplain management official will explain what you need to do. After you hear from the official, contact your insurer to start the claim and get contractor estimates. 

You may be able to receive a partial advance payment for up to $15,000 once the claims representative has a copy of the signed work contract, a permit from the community to do the work and a signed ICC Proof of Loss.

When the work is complete, local officials will inspect and issue a certificate of occupancy or a confirmation letter. Submit this document to your claims representative to receive the final installment or full payment. If the work isn’t completed, you must return the payment to your insurer. 
 

Flood insurance is the best way to recover 

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