Illinois · Will County

Will County, Illinois Flood Insurance

Will County's flood exposure is shaped by the Des Plaines River, DuPage River, and a network of smaller tributaries. Whether you're in Joliet, Romeoville, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Lockport, or unincorporated areas, here's how to think about NFIP and private flood coverage.

Will County's flood landscape

Will County sits at the southwestern edge of the Chicago metropolitan area and contains some of northeastern Illinois's most significant inland flood risk. The county's mapped floodplains reflect three categories of flood source:

The Des Plaines River corridor

The Des Plaines River runs through eastern Will County, passing through Joliet, Lockport, and the Lemont area before joining the Kankakee River to form the Illinois River. Properties along the Des Plaines have a long history of flood losses — the 2008, 2013, and 2017 flood events all produced significant damage along this corridor. FEMA's Will County FIRMs reflect detailed studies of the Des Plaines floodplain.

The DuPage River system

The DuPage River — both East and West branches plus the combined main stem — drains the central portion of Will County. Communities including Plainfield, Naperville (Will County portion), and Bolingbrook all have mapped DuPage River floodplains. The river is studied in detail through Will County and produces both AE-zone designations and shaded X-zone moderate risk areas.

Smaller tributaries

Hickory Creek (running through New Lenox and into Joliet), Spring Creek, Rock Run, Jackson Creek, and Prairie Creek all contribute to localized flood risk. Properties in these smaller tributary floodplains often surprise homeowners who associate "flood risk" only with major rivers.

Will County communities covered by FEMA mapping

Will County's FIRMs cover all incorporated and unincorporated communities, including:

What flood insurance costs in Will County

Under Risk Rating 2.0, premiums are based on each property's specific risk profile rather than its zone alone. General planning ranges for residential property in Will County:

Will County is a strong candidate for private flood comparison. The private flood market in Illinois has expanded substantially in the last few years, and for higher-value homes in moderate-to-high zones, private flood is frequently 20–40% less than NFIP while providing higher coverage limits. For older homes near the Des Plaines River, or for properties with prior flood claims, NFIP may remain the better or only option. We run both quotes.

What you should do if you've received a lender notice

  1. Confirm your current effective zone. Use our free Flood Zone Lookup tool to see the official FEMA designation for your Will County address.
  2. Understand the lender's 45-day clock. If your federally backed mortgage requires flood insurance and you've been notified, you typically have 45 days to obtain coverage before the lender purchases force-placed coverage. Force-placed coverage is almost always significantly more expensive than what you can arrange yourself.
  3. Get both an NFIP quote and a private flood quote. We provide this comparison free of charge. The Illinois private flood market is competitive on many Will County properties.
  4. Ask about Elevation Certificates if you believe you're above BFE. A Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) supported by an Elevation Certificate from an Illinois licensed surveyor can sometimes remove the flood insurance requirement entirely. LOMA filings are free; the surveyor's certificate typically costs $400–$800.
  5. Call us at (920) 785-5019. We're licensed in Illinois and have experience with Will County properties from the Des Plaines River corridor through the DuPage system.

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Will County zone designations explained

Zone AE — High Risk with Established BFE

The most common high-risk designation in Will County. Areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding where Base Flood Elevations have been determined through detailed study. The Des Plaines River, DuPage River, Hickory Creek, and other studied watercourses produce Zone AE designations on adjacent properties. Federally backed mortgages require flood insurance.

Zone A — High Risk Without Established BFE

Areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding but where Base Flood Elevations have not been determined. Some smaller Will County tributaries fall into Zone A rather than AE. Insurance requirements are the same as AE, but Risk Rating 2.0 premium calculations differ.

Zone AH and AO — Shallow Flooding

Specialized high-risk zones for areas of shallow flooding (typically 1–3 feet) with ponding (AH) or sheet flow (AO). Less common in Will County than AE but present in some lower-elevation neighborhoods.

Zone X (Shaded) — Moderate Risk

Areas of 0.2% annual chance flooding (the "500-year flood") or 1% annual chance flooding with average depths less than one foot. Insurance is not required but Preferred Risk Policies are typically very affordable. Many older Will County neighborhoods with stormwater drainage limitations fall into shaded X.

Zone X (Unshaded) — Minimal Risk

Areas outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain. Insurance is not required.

Will County flood insurance — common questions

What are the main flood risks in Will County, Illinois?
Will County has several significant flood sources. The Des Plaines River runs through the eastern part of the county and is the largest single source — flood events on the Des Plaines have historically affected properties in Joliet, Lockport, Romeoville, and unincorporated areas. The DuPage River drains the central and western portions of the county. Hickory Creek, Spring Creek, Rock Run, and Jackson Creek are smaller tributaries with their own mapped floodplains. The combination of the Des Plaines River corridor and these tributaries makes Will County one of the more flood-exposed counties in northeastern Illinois.
Where do I check Will County flood maps?
FEMA's Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov is the official source — enter any Will County address and the system returns the currently effective Flood Insurance Rate Map panel. Our free Flood Zone Lookup tool pulls from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer and provides the same data with a simpler interface. For pending or preliminary maps not yet effective, FEMA's Flood Map Changes Viewer (msc.fema.gov/fmcv) lets you compare the current effective FIRM against any pending updates.
How much does flood insurance cost in Will County?
Under Risk Rating 2.0, costs depend on each property's specific characteristics — distance from flood source, elevation relative to BFE, foundation type, replacement cost, and claims history. General planning ranges for residential property: Zone X typically runs $400 to $900 per year. Zone AE typically runs $1,000 to $3,500 per year. Properties along the Des Plaines River corridor — particularly in Joliet — can run higher depending on elevation. Private flood insurance can be 20–40% less than NFIP for many Will County properties, particularly higher-value homes.
I'm in Naperville — is my home covered under the Will County flood maps or the DuPage County maps?
Naperville straddles the Will/DuPage County line. The flood zone designation for any specific Naperville address depends on which county the property is in, not the Naperville mailing address. Naperville properties in DuPage County are governed by DuPage County FIRMs; properties in Will County are governed by Will County FIRMs. Use a Flood Zone Lookup tool with the precise property address to confirm — the tool returns the actual jurisdiction along with the zone.
What if my Will County property has flooded before but isn't in a mapped flood zone?
Repetitive-loss properties — homes that have flooded multiple times even outside mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas — are a real situation in Illinois, particularly in older neighborhoods with stormwater drainage limitations. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. NFIP Preferred Risk Policies are available even outside mapped flood zones and are typically very affordable. Private flood insurance is also available for non-zone properties; we run both quotes.
Does the Illinois state government require flood insurance separately from FEMA?
No. Illinois does not impose a separate state flood insurance requirement beyond the federal NFIP rules. However, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Water Resources is the state coordinating agency for floodplain management and works with FEMA and local governments on map updates. Lender requirements (federally backed mortgages on properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas) operate under federal law uniformly across Illinois.
Should I switch from NFIP to private flood in Will County?
It depends. For higher-value homes in Will County, private flood is frequently 20–40% less than NFIP and offers higher building coverage limits. NFIP caps residential building coverage at $250,000; private carriers routinely write $500,000–$1,000,000+. However, if you currently have a grandfathered NFIP rate from a previous map revision, that rate protection generally requires continuous NFIP coverage. Switching to private flood may forfeit the grandfathered rate, and FEMA may not honor it if you later return to NFIP. We walk through the specific math for your property — it's not always a cheaper-is-better decision.

Related Illinois flood insurance pages

External references: FEMA Map Service Center · Illinois DNR Office of Water Resources · FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer

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