Blog > Sunnyvale Flood Zones by Neighborhood: Where Homes Sit in FEMA’s High-Risk Areas
Sunnyvale Flood Zones by Neighborhood: Where Homes Sit in FEMA’s High-Risk Areas
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The City of Sunnyvale’s parcel records carry a FEMA flood-zone code for every parcel. Of the 29,061 single-family houses, condos and townhomes in those records, 851 (3%) sit in one of FEMA’s high-risk zones: A, AE or AO. Here is where they are, sorted into our neighborhood guides. The counts come from the city’s public parcel data as of October 19, 2026. There are no addresses here.
The short answer
- Most of Sunnyvale is outside the high-risk zones. 27,823 of these homes (96%) are in zone X.
- Three neighborhoods hold most of the rest. 741 of the 851 high-risk homes are in Lawrence Station (320, zone AO), Lakewood Village (257, zone AE) and San Miguel (164).
- The rest are small pockets: Serra Park & West Valley (36), Cherry Chase (24), Panama Park (20), Sunny Arts & Community Center (11), Cherryhill (10), Braly Park (4), Fair Oaks Park (2).
- Another 387 parcels carry a code “R” that the city’s layer doesn’t define. We left them out of these counts.
Neighborhood by neighborhood
Homes in zones A, AE or AO inside each guide’s outline, with the share of the guide’s houses, condos and townhomes they make up and the streets where most of them are.
| Neighborhood | High-risk homes | Zones | Share of the guide’s homes | Streets with the most |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Station | 320 | AO 320 | 16% | Red Oak Dr, Evelyn Terrace, Agave Terrace, Reed Ave |
| Lakewood Village | 257 | AE 257 | 16% | Lakebird Dr, Lakechime Dr, Greenlake Dr, Hiddenlake Dr |
| San Miguel | 164 | AE 160, AO 4 | 16% | Ahwanee Terrace, San Mateo Ct, San Saba Ct, Santa Paula Ave |
| Serra Park & West Valley | 36 | A 36 | 1% | Ashcroft Way, Bedford Ave, Barton Dr |
| Cherry Chase | 24 | A 24 | 2% | Knickerbocker Dr, Cardinal Dr, Robin Way |
| Panama Park | 20 | AO 20 | 2% | Ashbourne Dr, Fieldfair Ct, Pauline Dr |
| Sunny Arts & Community Center | 11 | AO 11 | 1% | Van Dyck Dr, Chopin Dr, Renoir Ct |
| Cherryhill | 10 | A 10 | 2% | Blackberry Terrace, Robin Way |
| Braly Park | 4 | AO 4 | 1% | — |
| Fair Oaks Park | 2 | AO 2 | under 1% | — |
What the zones mean
- Zone A: an area with a 1% chance of flooding in any year, where FEMA hasn’t set a base flood elevation.
- Zone AE: the same 1%-a-year risk, with a base flood elevation set.
- Zone AO: shallow flooding, usually sheet flow 1 to 3 feet deep, with the same 1%-a-year risk.
- Zone X: moderate to minimal risk, outside the 1%-a-year floodplain.
- Insurance: lenders require flood insurance on homes in zones A, AE and AO when the mortgage is federally backed. In zone X it’s optional.
Reading it right
- The zone covers the parcel, not the house. A house can sit above the base flood elevation even when its parcel is in a high-risk zone. An elevation certificate settles it, and it can lower the insurance price.
- Maps change. FEMA revises flood maps from time to time, so check the current FEMA map for the exact address before you rely on a zone.
- Zone X isn’t zero risk. Flooding can happen outside the high-risk zones, and zone X homes can still be insured.
- Apartments aren’t counted. The counts cover houses, condos and townhomes; rental apartment buildings aren’t included.
Go deeper
Our guides to Lakewood Village, San Miguel and Lawrence Station cover what to check when you buy there. Sunnyvale Neighborhoods by Their Houses shows how old and how big the homes are in each guide, and the Sunnyvale city guide links all 26 neighborhood guides.
Buying or selling in a flood zone?
A Property Nerd can pull the zone, any elevation certificate and the insurance history for a specific home before you write an offer or set a price. Call (408) 373-1660 or (650) 383-8606, or book a strategy call. Commissions are negotiable, and we offer bundled services, so ask us what’s included.