How to Get an Elevation Certificate for Flood Insurance

If you live in a high flood risk zone in the US, you might need to obtain an elevation certificate to get flood insurance. The certificate becomes even more vital when you buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), as they require a copy of the certificate.

Today, we will talk about how to get an Elevation Certificate for flood insurance. So make sure to follow the guide till the end.

Importance of an Elevation Certificate

Floods are natural disasters that can cause extensive damage to properties. If you live in a high-risk zone for flooding, there is always danger lurking around. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to mitigate the risks associated with flooding. This is a body that provides flood insurance to property owners in flood-prone areas.

However, to benefit from the program, one essential document is required by NFIP, called Elevation Certificate. The Flood Elevation Certificate (EC) verifies a property’s elevation in relation to estimated floodwater heights.

You need an EC for your property because the Elevation Certificate provides crucial information for calculating flood insurance premiums. The lowest floor elevation of the property is compared to the BFE to determine the property’s vulnerability to flooding.

When is an Elevation Certificate Required?

An elevation certificate may be required in specific situations, primarily in high-risk flood zones or areas where flood maps have changed. NFIP flood insurance policies in high-risk flood zones usually require EC for the property.

While it might seem like an important document to obtain, you only need an EC in some selective cases. Here are the cases when you will need an EC:

• If your home is paid for using a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender.
• Your home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area. FEMA defines these places as being at high risk of flooding.
• You are acquiring an NFIP-backed flood insurance policy.
• If a recent change in flood maps affects your property, an EC may be required to determine the updated flood risk and insurance premium.

How to Obtain an Elevation Certificate

If you live in a high flood risk zone, like the “A” or “V” Zone(Special Flood Hazard Areas) designated by FEMA, your elevation certificate might already exist. So before you go to obtain a new EC certificate, it is better to check, as getting a new one can be very costly.

1. Contact the floodplain manager: Every NFIP participating community has a floodplain manager who maintains records of ECs. You can contact the floodplain manager in your community to check if they have an EC on file for your property.
2. Request from the seller: If you’re purchasing a property, you can request the seller to provide a copy of the EC if they have one on file. It’s important to ask for the EC before closing on the property to ensure compliance with insurance requirements.
3. Check with the developer or builder: If your property is located in a high-risk flood zone, the developer or builder may have been required to obtain an EC at the time of construction. You can check with them to see if they have an EC on file.
4. Check property deed: Sometimes, the EC is included with the property deed. You can review the property deed or contact the relevant authorities to check if an EC is available.

If you are unable to obtain your EC with the above-mentioned methods, you will have to obtain a new one. This involves hiring a licensed surveyor or engineer to conduct the elevation survey and prepare the certificate. This can be costly as it involves hiring a land surveyor who will spend a good amount of time surveying your property and preparing the certificate.

Here is how the process of obtaining a new EC usually works:

To get a new EC:

1. You need to hire a licensed surveyor or engineer to conduct the elevation survey and provide accurate measurements of your property’s elevation in relation to the base flood elevation (BFE) determined by FEMA.

2. The surveyor will then prepare the EC for you.

3. Once you receive the EC, you have to review the completed elevation certificate for accuracy and submit it to your insurance agent or lender.

4. It is vital to keep a copy for your records and update it as needed for any changes to your property.

While there is no fixed price for obtaining a new EC, it usually costs around USD 200.

That is all about how to obtain an elevation certificate for flood insurance. It is a vital document if you want to get flood insurance premiums and live in high flood-risk zones. We hope this guide helps you to get your EC for free.