Shapiro Signs Flood Risk Disclosure Law

House Bill 1704 requires Pennsylvania home sellers to disclose flood history, flood zone status and related insurance information beginning in July 2028.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Insurance

Isometric editorial illustration of a plain house block beside a flood-level post, with a teal water line across its base against a cream field. — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 1704, requiring home sellers to disclose flood history and flood zone status to buyers starting July 2028. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should home sellers be required to disclose flood history and insurance coverage to buyers?

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 1704, which requires sellers of residential property to disclose flood risk information to buyers. The law takes effect in July 2028.

Why it matters

Standard homeowners insurance policies generally exclude flood-related losses, and only about 1% of Pennsylvania households currently carry flood insurance. The legislation addresses gaps in flood risk awareness among homebuyers and implements recommendations from the 2024 Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force Final Report.

Approximately 1% of Pennsylvania households currently have flood insurance, while standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood losses. Sellers must disclose FEMA 100-year or 500-year flood zone status, prior flood damage and any flood insurance claims filed.

The players

Josh Shapiro

Josh Shapiro is the Governor of Pennsylvania, who signed the flood risk disclosure bill into law.

Perry Warren

Perry Warren is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing Bucks County, who sponsored House Bill 1704.

The details

House Bill 1704 requires sellers to disclose previous flood damage, whether a property lies in a FEMA 100-year or 500-year flood zone, whether flood insurance is required or has been maintained, government assistance received for flood damage and whether flood insurance claims have been filed. The legislation was sponsored by Democratic state Representative Perry Warren of Bucks County.

2024: Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force issues its final report.
July 2028: Flood disclosure requirements take effect.

Market Landscape

The law implements a recommendation from the 2024 Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force Final Report, which examined how to address the coverage gap left by standard homeowners policies. It targets the low rate of flood insurance uptake, with roughly 1% of Pennsylvania households currently insured.

Homebuyers in Pennsylvania will receive flood risk information about a property before purchase once the law takes effect in July 2028. Because standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood losses, buyers will be able to factor flood exposure and insurance needs into their purchase decisions.

The takeaway

Prospective homebuyers should ask about flood zone status and prior flood damage early in the transaction, since standard homeowners insurance typically does not cover flood losses. Reviewing flood insurance options before closing can prevent unexpected costs after purchase.