An elevation certificate (EC) is a document that shows the elevation of a building in relation to the expected flood level in a high-risk flood zone. An EC is used to determine the flood risk and the flood insurance premium for a property. An EC is also required to comply with the local floodplain management ordinance.
Why Do You Need an Elevation Certificate?
If you own a property in a high-risk flood zone, also known as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), you may need an EC for the following reasons:
- To obtain flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP uses the EC to calculate the accurate flood insurance rate for your property based on the elevation of your building and the flood zone. Without an EC, you may pay more than necessary for your flood insurance or be ineligible for certain discounts.
- To apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or a Letter of Map Revision based on fill (LOMR-F). These are official documents issued by FEMA that remove a property or a portion of a property from the SFHA. To request a LOMA or a LOMR-F, you need to provide an EC that proves that your property or building is above the base flood elevation (BFE), which is the elevation that floodwaters are expected to reach in a 1% annual chance flood, also known as the 100-year flood.
- To comply with the local floodplain management ordinance. Your community may require you to obtain an EC before issuing a building permit, a certificate of occupancy, or a variance for your property. An EC helps your community ensure that your building meets the minimum floodplain development standards and reduces the potential flood damage.
How to Get an Elevation Certificate?
There are several ways to get an EC for your property:
- Check with your local floodplain manager. Your community may already have an EC on file for your property if it was built or substantially improved after the effective date of the first Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for your community. You can contact your local government office and ask for the floodplain manager or the person who handles ECs for your community.
- Check with the previous owner or the developer. If you are buying a property, you can ask the seller to provide you with an EC if they have one. If your property is newly constructed or recently developed, you can ask the builder or the developer to provide you with an EC if they obtained one at the time of construction.
- Hire a licensed professional. If you cannot find an existing EC for your property, you can hire a licensed land surveyor, professional engineer, or certified architect who is authorized by law to certify elevation information. They can complete an EC for you for a fee. You can find a list of qualified professionals in your area on the National Flood Determination Association website.
How to Read an Elevation Certificate?
An EC consists of six sections: A, B, C, D, E, and F. Each section provides different information about your property and building. Here is a brief summary of what each section contains:
- Section A: Property Information. This section identifies the property location, the property owner, the property description, the latitude and longitude, and the NFIP map information, such as the FIRM panel number, the FIRM zone, and the BFE.
- Section B: Flood Zone Determination Information. This section indicates whether the property is located in an SFHA, and if so, whether it is subject to coastal high hazard or riverine flooding. It also indicates whether the property is eligible for a LOMA or a LOMR-F.
- Section C: Building Elevation Information. This section provides the elevation data for your building, such as the lowest floor elevation, the lowest adjacent grade elevation, the highest adjacent grade elevation, and the lowest adjacent grade elevation at the lowest elevation of the deck or stairs. The elevation data is measured in feet above or below the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29), the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88), or other datum specified on the FIRM.
- Section D: Surveyor, Engineer, or Architect Certification. This section contains the signature, seal, license number, and contact information of the licensed professional who completed the EC. It also indicates the date and the method of the elevation data collection.
- Section E: Building Photographs. This section contains four photographs of the building, showing the front, back, and sides of the building, and any attached or detached structures, such as garages, decks, or stairs. The photographs must be taken within 90 days of the date of the EC and must show the foundation and the lowest floor of the building.
- Section F: Property Owner or Lessee Certification. This section is optional and contains the signature and contact information of the property owner or the lessee who requests the EC.
How to Use an Elevation Certificate?
Once you have an EC for your property, you can use it for the following purposes:
- To purchase or renew your flood insurance policy. You can provide your EC to your insurance agent or company to get an accurate quote for your flood insurance premium. Your EC may help you qualify for a lower premium if your building is elevated above the BFE or if you have flood openings or vents in your foundation walls. You can also use your EC to apply for the Newly Mapped procedure or the Grandfathering rule, which are options that may reduce your premium if your property was newly mapped into an SFHA or if your community adopted a new FIRM that shows a higher BFE or a more hazardous flood zone for your property.
- To request a map change from FEMA. You can use your EC to support your application for a LOMA or a LOMR-F if you believe that your property or building is incorrectly mapped in an SFHA. A LOMA or a LOMR-F will amend the FIRM and show that your property or building is not subject to the 1% annual chance flood. This may eliminate or reduce your flood insurance requirement and premium. You can apply for a LOMA or a LOMR-F online through the FEMA Map Service Center or by mail using the MT-EZ, MT-1, or MT-2 forms.
- To comply with the local floodplain management ordinance. You can use your EC to demonstrate that your building meets the minimum floodplain development standards set by your community. Your EC may be required by your local floodplain manager before issuing a building permit, a certificate of occupancy, or a variance for your property. Your EC may also help you avoid or minimize potential flood damage to your building by showing the elevation of your lowest floor and the type of foundation you have.
How to Find an Elevation Certificate?
If you need an EC for your property, you can try the following sources:
- Your local floodplain manager. You can contact your local government office and ask for the floodplain manager or the person who handles ECs for your community. They may have an EC on file for your property if it was built or substantially improved after the effective date of the first FIRM for your community. You can also ask them for guidance on how to obtain or complete an EC for your property.
- Your previous owner or the developer. If you are buying a property, you can ask the seller to provide you with an EC if they have one. If your property is newly constructed or recently developed, you can ask the builder or the developer to provide you with an EC if they obtained one at the time of construction.
- Your insurance agent or company. If you have an existing flood insurance policy, you can ask your insurance agent or company if they have an EC for your property. They may have received an EC from the previous owner or the developer when they issued or renewed your policy.
- A licensed professional. If you cannot find an existing EC for your property, you can hire a licensed land surveyor, professional engineer, or certified architect who is authorized by law to certify elevation information. They can complete an EC for you for a fee. You can find a list of qualified professionals in your area on the National Flood Determination Association website.
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