Managed retreat from high-risk flood areas: exploring public attitudes and expectations about property buyouts

ABSTRACT Increasing flood risk requires governments to develop innovative solutions for flood risk management. The effectiveness of these solutions depends, in part, on their social acceptability. This paper presents the findings of a national survey to explore the social acceptability of property buyouts as a form of managed retreat from flood risk in Canada. It discusses public attitudes and expectations towards property buyout programmes in high-risk flood zones, including their salience, essential design elements, and factors that would influence household acceptance of a property buyout offer. The results show there is an appetite for property buyout programmes to reduce flood risk in high-risk zones. Moreover, the social acceptability of such programmes is highest when participation is voluntary, flexible pricing options are combined with financial incentives, and programme design and implementation are transparent. Participants indicated costs for these programmes should be borne primarily by governments and shared between governments at different levels. The findings suggest that although property buyouts—and managed retreat more generally—are considered a socially acceptable approach to flood risk management, their efficacy will depend on programme design, stakeholder collaboration, and effective communication of risk to vulnerable populations. Policy recommendations are discussed in response to these findings.