Check FEMA's Flood Map Before You Buy

A flood-zone answer should come from a current address search, not an old map printout. FEMA's Map Service Center is the official source, and its maps can be revised or replaced. Search the address, open the map panel, and note the effective date. A high-risk zone can affect mortgage insurance and building rules, but a place outside that zone can still flood.

Dallas County's flood page is useful for local contacts, but jurisdiction matters. The county handles floodplain questions in unincorporated areas. Inside a city, use that city's floodplain administrator. That distinction is worth settling before relying on a permit answer or paying for a survey.