Flood Zone Check by Address
Is your property in a flood zone? Get an address-level flood risk assessment for any Australian property — AEP ratings, council flood overlays, insurance impact and 2050 projections. Know before you buy or sell.
Address-level data · BOM + council overlays · From A$69
How ClimateNest checks your flood zone
Enter your address
Type any Australian property address into ClimateNest. We support all states and territories.
We check 16+ data sources
ClimateNest cross-references BOM, council flood overlays, NSW Spatial, QLD Globe and Geoscience Australia simultaneously.
Get your flood risk report
Your report shows your AEP rating, flood overlay status, insurance cost trajectory and projected risk changes to 2050.
What your flood zone report includes
More than a yes/no answer. ClimateNest gives you the full flood risk picture for your specific address.
AEP flood rating
Annual Exceedance Probability rating — your property's 1%, 2%, 5% and 10% AEP flood exposure based on BOM and council data.
Council flood overlay status
Whether your property sits within an active council flood overlay, development control plan or flood-prone land mapping.
Insurance cost trajectory
Estimated insurance premium loading due to flood risk — and how this is projected to increase by 2035 and 2050.
Property value impact
Research-backed estimate of the flood overlay discount on comparable properties, and projected value-at-risk to 2050.
2050 climate scenario
How your flood risk changes under CSIRO RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate scenarios. Know what you're buying into long-term.
Adaptation recommendations
Practical steps — stormwater management, flood barriers, insurance options — tailored to your property's specific risk profile.
BAL rating — bushfire attack level for your property
Flood isn't the only hazard. ClimateNest also reports your property's BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating using state government mapping and CSIRO data.
What is a BAL rating?
BAL stands for Bushfire Attack Level — a measure of your property's exposure to radiant heat, ember attack, and direct flame contact. Ratings range from BAL-LOW to BAL-FZ (Flame Zone). AS 3959-2018 governs construction requirements in bushfire-prone areas.
How ClimateNest checks your BAL
We cross-reference your address against state government bushfire overlay maps (NSW RFS, CFA Victoria, QLD QFES, and others), CSIRO ember attack modelling, and the National Bushfire Intelligence Capability dataset to determine your property's BAL rating.
BAL impact on property value
Properties with BAL-29, BAL-40, or BAL-FZ ratings face higher construction costs (+A$20,000–150,000), increased insurance premiums, and buyer hesitation. Understanding your BAL rating before you buy or build is essential.
BAL and insurance availability
Insurers increasingly use BAL zones to underwrite home insurance. Properties with high BAL ratings in mapped bushfire-prone areas may face premium loading of 20–80% or policy exclusions for bushfire damage.
Understanding AEP flood ratings
AEP (Annual Exceedance Probability) is the scientific standard for measuring flood risk in Australia. Here's what your rating means for your property.
A 1% probability of a flood of this magnitude occurring in any given year. Most council flood overlays use 1% AEP as the planning threshold. Properties within a 1% AEP zone face the highest insurance loading.
A 2% probability in any given year. While below the 1% AEP planning threshold, 2% AEP zones are often included in council flood planning areas and may affect insurance underwriting decisions.
Properties in 5% AEP zones face a 5% annual probability of flooding. These areas are typically outside council flood overlays but still carry elevated insurance risk and may experience localised flooding.
A 10% annual probability. While council flood overlays rarely map 10% AEP zones, surface water flooding and drainage issues affect these areas during intense rainfall events — especially in urban environments.
Flood risk by Australian state
NSW
Risk level: Very High
Northern Rivers, Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, Lismore — among Australia's most flood-affected regions. 180,000+ properties in flood overlays.
Sources: NSW Spatial Services, BOM
QLD
Risk level: Very High
South-east QLD flood plains, Ipswich, Brisbane River corridor and Townsville. Over 230,000 properties in mapped flood zones.
Sources: QLD Spatial, BOM, Geoscience AU
VIC
Risk level: High
Gippsland, Rochester, Echuca and Maribyrnong River corridor have active flood overlays. 2022 floods caused A$1.7B in insured losses.
Sources: VIC Planning Maps, BOM
WA
Risk level: Moderate
Swan River catchment, Carnarvon and Kalgoorlie face periodic flood events. Cyclone-driven flooding adds risk in the north-west.
Sources: Landgate WA, BOM
SA
Risk level: Moderate
Murray-Darling floodplain and Port Augusta face recurring flood exposure. Urban drainage in Adelaide contributes to surface water risk.
Sources: DPTI SA, BOM
TAS
Risk level: Low-Moderate
North-west Tasmania and the Derwent Valley have flood-prone areas. Climate change is increasing rainfall intensity.
Sources: LIST Tasmania, BOM
Try It Now — Check Any Property
Enter your property address below for a free instant preview. See your flood zone status, AEP rating, and risk summary before you commit to a full report.
Free instant preview · No credit card required · From A$69 for a full report
Frequently asked questions
Is a flood zone check free in Australia?
State government spatial portals (NSW Spatial, QLD Globe, VIC Planning Maps) provide free flood overlay maps at the zone level. ClimateNest offers a free address preview, with full flood risk reports including AEP ratings, insurance impact and 2050 projections from A$69.
What does it mean if my property has a flood overlay?
A flood overlay means your property sits within an area identified by council as flood-prone. This may affect development approvals, insurance availability, insurance cost, and the property's resale value. It does not necessarily mean the property will flood, but the risk is elevated.
What is a BAL rating and how does it affect my property?
BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rates your property's exposure to bushfire — from BAL-LOW to BAL-FZ (Flame Zone). BAL-29 and above requires specific construction standards under AS 3959-2018, adding A$20,000–150,000 to build costs. ClimateNest checks your BAL rating using state government bushfire overlay maps and CSIRO ember attack modelling.
Does flood risk affect my home insurance in Australia?
Yes. Insurers use flood zone data to price policies. Properties in flood overlays typically pay 30–200% more for flood cover, and in high-risk areas some insurers have withdrawn coverage entirely, leaving owners with limited or no flood insurance options.
What is an AEP flood rating and why does it matter?
AEP (Annual Exceedance Probability) measures the likelihood of a flood of a given magnitude occurring in any year. A 1% AEP means a 1-in-100 year flood probability. Your AEP rating affects insurance premiums, property values, and whether your property is within a council flood overlay. ClimateNest provides your exact AEP rating and 2050 projections.
Can I check a flood zone before making an offer on a property?
Yes — and you should. A ClimateNest report gives you address-level flood risk data before you commit. Many buyers discover flood overlays only after exchange, when it's too late to renegotiate. Enter the address at ClimateNest.org before you bid or sign.
Check your property's flood zone now
Address-level flood risk · AEP ratings · Council overlays · 2050 projections · Insurance impact. From A$69.
From A$69 · Free preview · 24-hour satisfaction guarantee