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What is an "elevation certificate"? Why you may need an "elevation certificate"? |
An Elevation Certificate is "an official form of the National Flood Insurance Program created to compare a property's elevation data (determined by field measurement) to the Base Flood Elevation data." By taking specific elevation measurements and comparing them to established "bench-marks" or known elevation points in the community, surveyors are able to compare the elevation or height of your property and home to the known flood elevation in your area. Once this information has been gathered, it is reported on a form provided to us by FEMA. certificates are used to obtain an accurately rated flood insurance quote or policy or as a support document to apply for a Letter of Map Amendment to revise FEMA's flood map.If you believe your property has been mapped into a flood zone incorrectly, this is the primary supporting evidence used to show the correct elevation information of your property. FEMA’s flood maps are not detailed enough to depict your individual property's specific elevations. However, lenders are required to use these maps to determine flood zone and insurance requirements.
Additional, most building permits are issued based on the same flood map information. In many cases the maps depict properties in flood zones, when in fact, they are not. The only way to make this determination is to have an Elevation Certificate done. If the data shows FEMA's maps to be in error, you may be eligible for FEMA's Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA).
