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Jefferson Parish says unincorporated area will move to CRS Class 3, promising 35% flood-insurance savings
Summary
Jefferson Parish officials announced that unincorporated areas will move from Community Rating System class 5 to class 3 effective Oct. 1, 2025, which the parish says will translate into a roughly 35% discount on flood-insurance premiums for affected policyholders at renewal.
Jefferson Parish officials announced Sept. 17 that unincorporated areas of the parish will move from a Community Rating System (CRS) classification of 5 to class 3, a change the parish says will take effect Oct. 1 and automatically yield about a 35% discount on flood-insurance premiums for eligible policyholders.
"This new rating will give residents a 35% discount on their flood insurance, which will automatically be applied to premiums upon renewal for the any NFI feedback flood insurance policyholders," Chief Operating Officer Steve LeChute said as he described the rating change. He told the council the move makes unincorporated Jefferson Parish the first CRS class-3 community in Louisiana and one of the few class-3 jurisdictions nationwide.
Parish officials tied the upgrade to a series of local actions: updated building-code effectiveness grading, adoption of a freeboard requirement higher than FEMA minimums, maintenance of open space and watershed plans, hazard-mitigation improvements, flood-warning practices and an annual mailer that informs residents of flood risk. LeChute recognized the parish floodplain management and hazard mitigation department and director Maggie Talley for leading the work.
At councilmembers' request, LeChute confirmed the change applies to the unincorporated area of Jefferson Parish; council members also asked whether savings take effect immediately. "October 1," he said, adding the discount will appear on renewals after that date.
Officials also framed the change as a way to keep money in residents' pockets and to reflect long-term investments in flood resilience and planning. The parish said residents who carry flood insurance will see the savings automatically at their next policy renewal; homeowners who are uncertain about eligibility were directed to contact their insurer or the parish's floodplain office.
Next steps for the parish include continuing public outreach on the new rating and monitoring implementation so savings are applied correctly to policy renewals.
(Reporting note: statements and the 35% figure are from remarks delivered to the council by Steve LeChute.)
