FEMA Elevation Certificate: when you need one and how it works

An Elevation Certificate is a FEMA form that records the elevation of a building compared with the expected flood level in its area. It is completed and signed by a licensed land surveyor, engineer or architect, based on measurements taken on site.

What the certificate shows

• the flood zone of the property, taken from the Flood Insurance Rate Map;
• the Base Flood Elevation, when the map gives one;
• the elevation of the lowest floor, the garage, the lowest adjacent ground and equipment such as the air conditioner or furnace;
• the building type, with photos, and details about flood openings in a crawl space or enclosure.

When you may need one

• Flood insurance. Under FEMA's current rating method, an Elevation Certificate is not always required, but it can help document your building's real elevation. Ask your insurance agent whether it would change your rating.
• Building permits. Communities in the National Flood Insurance Program usually require elevation documentation for new construction and substantial improvements in a special flood hazard area, often once when the foundation is set and again when the building is finished.
• Changing your flood zone. If your house sits on ground that is higher than the Base Flood Elevation, you can ask FEMA for a Letter of Map Amendment. The request relies on elevation data certified by a professional.
• Buying or selling a home in a flood zone: an existing certificate is useful information for the buyer and the insurer.

Check before you order

1. Look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center to see the flood zone.
2. Ask your local floodplain manager or building department whether a certificate is already on file: some communities keep them.
3. Ask the seller or previous owner for any existing certificate. A certificate for the same building may still be valid if nothing has changed.

What the visit involves

The surveyor ties the building to a known benchmark, measures the floors, the ground around the house and the machinery, and takes photos. You receive the signed FEMA form, which you can share with your agent, your community or FEMA.

Describe your property in the form: licensed surveyors near you get back to you with a written quote for an Elevation Certificate.