Charleston Launches Online Flood Buyout Guide
The city has a new online resource explaining how property buyouts work for flood-prone homes.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Safety
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Charleston has launched an online resource explaining its flood property buyout process, which has purchased 46 flood-prone properties with FEMA since 2015. The city says it created 8.7 acres of open space from buyouts in three neighborhoods.
Why it matters
Charleston is beset by dozens of floods a year, and the buyout program aims to move residents out of repeatedly flooded homes. The resource is intended to help property owners understand eligibility and the multi-year process.
The city and FEMA have purchased 46 properties since 2015, with nearly $1.7 million in city spending and more than $8 million in FEMA spending. Planners consider approximately 630 homes repetitive loss properties, and the number that will be bought out remains unclear.
The players
FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is the federal agency that co-funds Charleston's flood buyouts through its repetitive loss programs.
The details
Eligible properties must carry active flood insurance, sit in a FEMA flood zone, and be officially declared repetitive loss by FEMA. Bought-out homes are razed and the land converted into ecological park space, such as the Bridge Pointe Ecological Park created on former Shadowmoss land where $5.1 million in buyouts occurred.
Timeline
2015: City and FEMA buyouts of 46 properties begin.
2026: Current tally of 46 purchased properties is reported.
Nov. 5: Koszela briefs the Resilience and Sustainability Advisory Committee on buyouts.
Seasonal Patterns
Charleston's buyouts operate under FEMA's repetitive loss designation, which targets homes flooded again and again. The city's flooding, with dozens of floods a year, is the condition that makes this designation central to its program.
Property owners with active flood insurance in a FEMA flood zone who have been declared repetitive loss can check eligibility through the city's online buyout explainer. The city notes that not every application will be approved and the process can take several years.
The takeaway
Flood buyouts are a multi-year process that not every homeowner will qualify for, so understanding eligibility early matters. The city's online resource is the starting point for residents weighing whether a buyout fits their situation.
Further reading
Explore more on Safety for flood preparedness across the region.
More information
Read the City of Charleston flood buyout explainer webpage for details on eligibility and the buyout process.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Post and Courier.
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