Where termite pressure is worst in America — every state classified by the Termite Infestation Probability (TIP) zones from the US Forest Service map that HUD and the International Residential Code use for inspections and building requirements. Updated July 2026.
All 50 states (+ DC) by zone
| Zone I Very heavy | AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA (I/II), MS (I/II), SC |
| Zone II Moderate to heavy | AR, AZ (II/III) *, DC (II/III), DE (II/III), IL, IN, KS (II/III), KY, MD (II/III), MO, NC, NM (II/III), OH (II/III), OK, TN, TX *, VA |
| Zone III Slight to moderate | CO *, CT, IA, ID, MA, MI (III/IV), MN (III/IV), MT (III/IV), NE, NH (III/IV), NJ (III/II), NV, NY, OR (III/II), PA, RI, SD (III/IV), UT, VT (III/IV), WA (III/II), WI (III/IV), WV, WY (III/IV) |
| Zone IV None to slight | AK, ME (IV/III), ND (IV/III) |
* Arizona and Colorado vary sharply by elevation (low deserts high-risk, high plateaus lower); Texas spans three zones — east/Gulf Coast is Zone I, the arid west Zone III. Zone boundaries follow climate lines, not state lines, so split states show both zones.
What the zones mean
- Zone I (Very heavy): highest subterranean-termite pressure — the Gulf South, Florida, Georgia, coastal South Carolina, most of California, Hawaii. Annual inspections and pre-treatment are the norm.
- Zone II (Moderate to heavy): substantial risk across the central-southern tier and mid-Atlantic coastal plain.
- Zone III (Slight to moderate): the northern-central states, interior West, and Northeast.
- Zone IV (None to slight): the cold-climate north — Alaska, northern Maine, the northern Great Plains.
HUD uses these zones in its mortgage inspection requirements, and the IRC's map (Figure R301.2) drives local building-code termite protections. Termites cause an estimated $5–6.8 billion in US property damage each year — and standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover it.
In a risky zone? Start here
- How to Get Rid of Termites — the full guide
- Termite Bait Stations: How They Work
- What treatment costs: the Pest Control Cost Calculator
- Termite Damage Statistics — the sourced numbers
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Or cite as: Townhustle, "Termite Risk Zones by State," townhustle.com, updated July 2026.