Flood control is the main function of reservoir water resources regulation. Therefore, setting appropriate flood limit water level is of great significance to the safety of the reservoir and its downstream areas, it is also beneficial to resolving the contradiction between flood control and profitability of the reservoir. Based on the development process of flood limit water level research at home and abroad, we summarized the determination methods of single flood limit water level, staged flood limit water level and dynamic control of flood limit water level. And then, we listed and analyzed the applicable conditions, advantages and disadvantages of the methods. Finally, we put forward the key issues to be addressed in the future in order to provide some reference for the development of determination methods of flood limit water level.