Cal. Civ. Code § 231-B
Flood history and risk notice in residential leases
Operative Text
§ 231-b. Flood history and risk notice in residential leases. 1. Every
residential lease shall provide notice of the following information
related to the previous flood history and current flood risk of the
leased premises, as follows:
(a) whether any or all of the leased premises is located wholly or
partially in a Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA") designated
floodplain;
(b) whether any or all of the leased premises is located wholly or
partially in the Special Flood Hazard Area ("SFHA"; "100-year
floodplain") according to FEMA's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps for
the leased premises' area;
(c) whether any or all of the leased premises is located wholly or
partially in a Moderate Risk Flood Hazard Area ("500-year floodplain")
according to FEMA's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the leased
premises' area; and
(d) any prior flood damage to the leased premises due to a natural
flood event, such as heavy rainfall, coastal storm surge, tidal
inundation, or river overflow, that the lessor knows or reasonably
should know has occurred to such premises and the nature of any such
damage.
2. Every residential lease shall also contain the following notice to
tenants: "Flood insurance is available to renters through the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) to cover your personal property and contents in the event of a
flood. A standard renter's insurance policy does not typically cover
flood damage. You are encouraged to examine your policy to determine
whether you are covered."
N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 231-B requires that every residential lease in New York include specific disclosures about a property's flood history and flood risk. Landlords must indicate whether the premises falls within any FEMA-designated floodplain categories—including the Special Flood Hazard Area (100-year floodplain) and the Moderate Risk Flood Hazard Area (500-year floodplain)—and must disclose any prior flood damage from natural events that the landlord knows or reasonably should know about. Leases must also carry a standardized notice informing tenants that renter's insurance typically does not cover flood damage and that FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers coverage for personal property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 231-B, compliant residential lease agreements include clear written disclosures addressing each of the four flood-related categories: FEMA floodplain status, Special Flood Hazard Area (100-year) designation, Moderate Risk Flood Hazard Area (500-year) designation, and any known prior flood damage from natural events such as storm surge, heavy rainfall, or river overflow. Operators generally consult FEMA's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the property's area to accurately complete these disclosures before a lease is signed. The statute also requires that every lease include the verbatim NFIP notice language directing tenants to review their renter's insurance coverage for flood protection.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 231-B gives residential tenants the right to receive written flood disclosures and a standardized flood insurance notice as part of their lease. If a lease is missing these disclosures—such as the property's FEMA floodplain status or the landlord's known flood damage history—that absence may be relevant to understanding the property's risk and could be raised as a concern with a local housing agency or tenant-rights organization. Tenants who believe a landlord failed to disclose known flood damage or floodplain status under § 231-B may explore options including contacting a tenant advocacy organization or consulting with an attorney familiar with New York housing law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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