Flooding & Flood Insurance

Oregon City residents/property owners purchasing flood insurance should check with their insurance agent to make sure they are receiving a discount on insurance.

Why You Qualify for a Flood Insurance Discount

The City of Oregon City participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is a federal program operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make flood insurance available to everyone. To participate, the City has met minimum NFIP standards, which include adopting and enforcing floodplain zoning regulations.

In 1990, the NFIP introduced its Community Rating System (CRS) which assigned municipalities grades of 1 to 10 (1 being the best). The idea is that if a community has taken steps to reduce the risk of flood damage that goes beyond the NFIP's minimum requirements, the community's residents should pay less for flood insurance because of the reduced risk. Based on what the City of Oregon City has done to reduce the risk of flood damage and to keep our residents and business owners informed about flood measures, effective 2023, Oregon City's rating was improved from a Class 8 to a Class 6. Property owners are now eligible for a 20% reduction in flood insurance rates (it was 10% under Class 8) for properties in the 100-year floodplain and a 5% reduction for properties outside the 100-year floodplain. Oregon City has had a history of flooding and is currently the only city in Clackamas County that participates in this program.

Contact your insurance agent for more information about flood insurance, rates and coverage. Our community information is as follows:

• Name of Community: City of Oregon City
• Community ID No: 410021
• Current Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Date: June 17, 2008
• FIRM Effective Date: February 15, 1980

Property owners can insure their buildings and contents, and renters can insure their possessions. Keep in mind, you do not have to live in a floodplain to suffer flood damage or to benefit from flood insurance.

Oregon City Flood Insurance by the Numbers

In 2023, Oregon City had 24 active flood insurance policies in place in Oregon City. Of those policies, 14 were in the 100 year floodplain, and 10 were not in other zones. The City's ability to maintain a Class 6 CRS certification saves policy holders in the 100 year floodplain an average of $745 per year. There are 117 buildings which exist within the floodplain. The Special Flood Hazard Area contains 530.88 acres.