Blog · October 14, 2026 · North Dakota
Williston Flood Zone Map: checking a property's flood zone
Flood zones are set by FEMA, and checking one near Springbrook takes a few minutes.
Main page: Williams County, ND GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, county facts and neighboring maps).
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Weighing a property around Grenora? A quick look at the Williston flood zone map shows whether FEMA puts it in a high-risk zone, and it costs nothing to check. In this Williston guide: finding the address on FEMA's map, decoding A, AE and X, and pairing it with the Williams County ArcGIS parcel map.
Getting started with the Williston flood zone map
Flood zones come from FEMA's Flood Map Service Center: type an address near Tioga, and choose the dynamic map. A tract near Grenora without an address is still easy to locate: zoom in from US Route 85B then click the parcel area.
The free map to start with
Begin with the Williams County ArcGIS parcel map; it includes each tax parcel in the county, Tioga included. If you only know roughly where the land is, follow US Route 85B on the aerial and select the outline. For a home near Alamo, write down the parcel ID from that panel; every clerk in the county asks for it first.
City limits and county records
Williston lies within Williams County, North Dakota, and the county assessor maps its lots. Williston is also the county seat, so deeds and plats are filed in town. If you're looking near Alamo, the municipality handles matters such as zoning, permits and utilities for lots inside the boundary, but the county runs assessment and recording. Land beyond the town limits out by Ray often falls under county rules, not municipal ones.
Zones on the Williston flood zone map
Out toward Grenora, zones beginning with A or V mark the Special Flood Hazard Area, meaning a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. In and around Alamo, shaded Zone X marks moderate flood hazard, between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance floods; unshaded X means minimal mapped risk.
Getting answers from the right desk
Questions about value or the owner field for land near Alamo go to the Director of Tax Equalization, since that office keeps the assessment data. Building or septic questions for a lot near Tioga need the planning or permitting office, town or county, depending on location.
What to request from a seller
Ask the listing agent for any Elevation Certificate on the property near Springbrook; getting a quote early avoids surprises.
Williams County in a few facts
Williston is the county seat, where most land records are kept. Smaller places on the map include Springbrook, Epping, Alamo, and Grenora. About 39,113 people live in Williams County (Census estimate, 2023) on roughly 2,078 square miles. Williams County dates to 1891, and some chains of title near Alamo are long. Features like Lake Sakakawea, Missouri River, and Lake Zahl National Wildlife Refuge help you orient on the aerial around Epping.
Use the county map alongside FEMA
FEMA doesn't draw property lines, so open the Williams County ArcGIS parcel map next to confirm you have the right parcel near Epping.
How land is described here
North Dakota is laid out under the Public Land Survey System, so deeds around Springbrook reference sections and townships. A standard section is about one square mile, roughly 640 acres, and a township holds 36 of them, though sections near Grenora can be irregular. Copy the legal description from the record for the parcel near Grenora for any title or survey request.
Recorded documents worth pulling
The map is an index, not the title: recorded deeds, subdivision plats and easements for land near Springbrook are filed with the County Recorder. Closer to Epping, have ready the book and page from the tax record so staff can find the deed fast.
What a flood zone means for a buyer
Out toward Epping, an Elevation Certificate from a surveyor helps: it can change the insurance price a lot. Building or adding on near Ray in a mapped zone usually means extra permit review; ask the local floodplain administrator early.
A word on accuracy
Listed acreage is a tax-roll number; only a licensed surveyor sets the real boundary on land around Epping. For a parcel near Tioga, records update in batches, so a deed recorded last month can take weeks to appear.
Field tips
The parcel map usually runs in a mobile browser, useful out on a road near Ray, so load it before you lose signal. A screenshot of the parcel near Springbrook with its ID helps when you meet an owner or agent.
Water near Alamo
Creeks and ditches near Grenora aren't always studied in detail, so walk the land after rain. Wet ground around Tioga is a separate issue from flood zones; check the National Wetlands Inventory mapper for a first look.
Questions about the Williston flood zone map
Is my property near Epping in a flood zone?
In most cases, FEMA's free map shows the zone for any spot near Epping; no account is needed.
What is a LOMA for land near Ray?
FEMA's LOMA process is the usual route when a building near Epping sits above the base flood elevation; it starts with an elevation survey.
Can a flood zone near Tioga change?
Good question; a new study can move a zone line near Alamo, so look at the panel date.
Do I need flood insurance in Williston?
Good question; lenders generally require it for buildings near Springbrook in a Special Flood Hazard Area when the loan is federally regulated or insured; elsewhere it's optional.
Does the parcel map work on a phone in Williston?
The map near Ray usually works on a phone; screenshots help offline.
Open the official Williams County, ND parcel map See it in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.