283 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM ELEVATION CERTIFICATE PURPOSE OF THE ELEVATION CERTIFICATE The Elevation Certificate is an important administrative tool of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). As part of the agreement for making flood insurance available in a community, the NFIP requires the community to adopt a floodplain management ordinance containing certain minimum requirements intended to reduce future flood losses. One such requirement is that the community "obtain the elevation of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new and substantially improved structures, and maintain a record of all such information." The Elevation Certificate is one way for a community to comply with this requirement. The Elevation Certificate is also required to properly rate post-FIRM structures, which are buildings constructed after publication of the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), for flood insurance in FIRM Zones A1-A30, AE, AO, AH, A(with Base Flood Elevations [BFE's]), V1-V30, VE, and V(with BFE's). In addition, the Elevation Certificate is also needed for pre-FIRM structures being rated under post-FIRM flood insurance rules. Use of this certificate does not in any way alter the flood insurance purchase requirement. The Elevation Certificate is only used to provide information necessary to ensure compliance with applicable community floodplain management ordinances, to determine the proper flood insurance premium rate, and/or to support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment or Revision (LOMA or LOMR). Only a LOMA or LOMR from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can amend the FIRM and remove the Federal requirement for a lending institution to require the purchase of flood insurance. Note that the lending institution may still require flood insurance. This certificate is only used to certify the elevation of the reference level of a building. If a non-residential building is being floodproofed, then a Floodproofing Certificate must be completed in addition to certifying the building's elevation. Floodproofing of a residential building does not alter a community's floodplain management elevation requirements or affect the insurance rating unless the community has been issued an exception by FEMA to allow floodproofed residential basements. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE ELEVATION CERTIFICATE The Elevation Certificate is to be completed by a land surveyor, engineer, or architect who is authorized by state or local law to certify elevation information when the elevation information for Zones A1-A30, AE, AH, A(with BFE's), V1-V30, VE, and V(with BFE's) is required. Community officials who are authorized by local law or ordinance to provide floodplain management information may also complete this form. For Zones AO and A(without BFE's), a building official, a property owner, or an owner's representative may also provide the information on this certification. SECTION A Property Information The Elevation Certificate identifies the building, its owner and its location. Provide the building owner's name(s), the building's complete street address, and lot and block number. If the property address is a rural route or PO box number, provide a legal description or an abbreviated location description based on distance from a reference point. SECTION B Flood Insurance Rate Map Information In order to properly complete the Elevation Certificate, it is necessary to locate the building on the appropriate FIRM, and record the appropriate information. To obtain a FIRM, contact the community or call 1-800-333-1363. The Elevation Certificate may be completed based on either the FIRM in effect at the time of the certification or the FIRM in effect when construction of the building was started. Items 1- 6. Using the FIRM Index and the appropriate FIRM panel for the community, record the community number, panel (or page) number, suffix, and Index date. From the appropriate FIRM panel, locate the property and record the zone and the BFE (or flood depth number) at the building site. BFE's are shown on a FIRM for Zones Ai-A30, AE, AH, V1430, and VE; flood depth numbers are shown for Zone AO. Item 7. Record the vertical datum system to which the elevations on the applicable FIRM are referenced. The datum is specified in the upper right corner of the title block of the FIRM. Item 8. In A or V Zones where BFE's are not provided on the FIRM, the community may have established BFE's based on data from other sources. For subdivisions and other development greater than 50 lots or 5 acres, establishment of BFE's is required by community floodplain management ordinance. When this is the case, complete this item. Page 3