Flood vent installation
Flood vents that let water through instead of pushing on your walls.
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We install flood openings in garages, crawlspaces and enclosures below the flood level, sized to the NFIP rules.
- Free, no-obligation quote
- Fast response from our team
- Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys
The short answer
FEMA's NFIP rules for flood openings call for at least 2 openings on at least 2 walls, a total net area of at least 1 square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding, and the bottom of each opening no higher than 1 ft above the adjacent grade. Garage doors do not count as flood openings (FEMA).
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Who needs flood vents
Owners with garages, storage rooms or crawlspaces below base flood elevation in A zones.
Sizing flood vents
A 400 sq ft garage needs at least 400 square inches of net open area, split across at least 2 walls, unless engineered vents carry a design certification for a smaller area. FEMA says designs must either carry a certification or meet the prescriptive criteria.[1][2]
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Number | At least 2 openings on at least 2 walls |
| Size | At least 1 sq in net area per sq ft of enclosed flood-prone area |
| Height | Bottom no higher than 1 ft above adjacent grade |
| Garage doors | Do not count as flood openings |
Frequently asked questions
How many flood vents do I need?
At least 2, on at least 2 walls, with at least 1 square inch of net open area per square foot of enclosed area, unless you use engineered vents with a design certification for a different area.
Do garage doors count as flood vents?
No. FEMA says garage doors do not meet the NFIP minimum requirements for flood openings.
Sources
- Proper Openings: Enclosures (Applicable to Zones A, A1-A30, AE, AO, AH, AR and AR Dual) (glossary), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Openings (glossary), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Floodproofing (glossary), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Rising Above the Risk: Frequently Asked Questions (05/05/2017), City of Miami Beach. Accessed October 27, 2026.
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