FEMA Flood Certificate
An Elevation Certificate is a document required by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to provide elevation information of property improvements (i.e. buildings) to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances, to support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment or Revision (LOMA or LOMR-F), to obtain cheaper insurance rates, and oftentimes to obtain a building permit. The certificate is used to certify building elevations, typically in special flood hazard areas shown on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM); it will list the location, flood zone classification, lowest floor elevation compared to the base flood elevation (BFE), and the building characteristics and makeup.
The land surveyor must first locate your property on the appropriate FIRM, where the map will show the flood zone and BFE near the property. We will then perform the fieldwork to obtain the elevation information for your house by using survey grade GPS/GNSS receivers and/or leveling equipment that is referenced from a known benchmark (with elevation based on a published vertical datum). Additional field work also may include elevation information for each floor, the highest and lowest natural elevations of the ground at your house, the lowest elevations of a deck or stairs that attach to your house, and any other required elevation data. The surveyor will then compile the surveyed information to complete the Elevation Certificate form.
Land Surveying
With accurate mapping of your land's property boundary lines and physical features, you can confidently move forward with your construction or development project. Our expert surveyors use the latest technology and techniques to provide accurate and reliable land surveying services that help you save time and money, avoid project hurdles, and maximize the potential of your property.
