Drainage, Stormwater & Flood

Flood Elevation Certificate

FEMA Elevation Certificate documenting your building's elevation for flood insurance, usually by a surveyor or engineer. Typical US fees run $170 to $2,000 per certificate, and most projects take 1 to 3 weeks. Our drawings, calculations and reports are sealed by a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in the state where your project is located, ready for permit submission.

Typical US fee$170 to $2,000per certificate
Typical timeline1 to 3 weeks
Permit drawingsSealed by a PE

What the work involves

A FEMA Elevation Certificate records a building's elevations relative to the base flood elevation and is used to rate flood insurance and prove floodplain compliance. It is typically completed by a licensed land surveyor or engineer, and in many cases a surveyor is the most direct choice. The certificate can lower premiums for homes built above flood levels and is often required for new construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas.

When you need it

  • Buying a home in a FEMA flood zone
  • Flood insurance quote seems too high
  • New construction or substantial improvement in a flood zone
  • Supporting a LOMA request
  • Local floodplain administrator requires one

What you receive

  • Completed FEMA Elevation Certificate
  • Building photographs
  • Elevation data used for insurance rating

What drives the cost

Progressive, citing HomeAdvisor, gives $170 to $2,000 (average about $600); Maricopa County, Arizona reports $400 to $1,000; Fixr lists $600 to $2,000. Your community may already have one on file at no cost.

Frequently asked questions

How much does flood Elevation Certificate cost?

Across the US, flood Elevation Certificate usually costs $170 to $2,000 per certificate. Progressive, citing HomeAdvisor, gives $170 to $2,000 (average about $600); Maricopa County, Arizona reports $400 to $1,000; Fixr lists $600 to $2,000. Your community may already have one on file at no cost.

How long does flood Elevation Certificate take?

Plan on 1 to 3 weeks from signed proposal to stamped deliverables, longer if a site visit, soil testing or a permit review cycle is involved.

Do I need a licensed PE for flood Elevation Certificate?

In most US jurisdictions, yes. When the work needs a permit, the plans, calculations or report usually must be sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in the state where the project is located. Every deliverable we issue for permit is sealed that way.

Will I also need a land surveyor?

Sometimes. Depending on the site, flood Elevation Certificate can also involve a land surveyor, floodplain administrator or insurance agent. We tell you up front which other professionals your project needs and coordinate with them so the drawings agree.

Who do you provide flood Elevation Certificate for?

Most of our clients for this service are homeowners, insurers, lenders and developers. Describe your project and one of our engineers will reply with scope, fee and schedule.

Do I need a civil engineer or a surveyor?

Either licensed professional can complete it, but surveyors perform most elevation certificates because the work is primarily elevation measurement. In some zones without base flood elevations, a community official or the owner may complete certain sections.

Can an Elevation Certificate lower my flood insurance?

It can, if it shows the building sits above the base flood elevation. Ask your agent how it would affect your rating.

Is there a free copy?

Check with your local floodplain administrator, who may already have a certificate on file for your building. A previous owner may also have one in their closing documents.

Is it the same as a LOMA?

No. A LOMA is a FEMA determination that removes a structure from the flood zone; an Elevation Certificate often supports that request.

Where we provide this service

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Sources

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