All About Elevation Certificates

If your client’s building is in a high-risk area, an Elevation Certificate (EC) may provide important information to inform mitigation actions that will lower flood risk and ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances. For example, the certificate shows the location of the building, lowest floor elevation as compared to base flood elevation (BFE), building characteristics, and flood zone.

Under NFIP's pricing approach, Risk Rating 2.0, an EC is no longer required to purchase coverage. Instead, FEMA uses its tools and resources to determine the first-floor height of a building as one of the factors used when calculating rates. However, a property owner may choose to provide an EC and submit it to their agent to determine if it will lower their insurance costs. ECs continue to be used for floodplain management building requirements, which can affect eligibility for Community Rating System discounts.

Elevation Certificate FAQs

As an insurance agent for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), it is your responsibility to help your clients understand and use Elevation Certificates. Review the Elevation Certificate Fact Sheet for more information. 

These questions can help you guide your client’s decision-making process. If you need additional guidance, contact your underwriting department or visit the Map Update web pages.

  • An Elevation Certificate (EC) is an administrative tool used by the NFIP to provide elevation information necessary to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances; to inform mitigation actions that will lower flood risk; and/or support a request for a LOMA to remove a building from a high-risk flood area. The EC lists a building’s location, lowest point of elevation, flood zone, and other characteristics. Under NFIP's pricing approach, an EC is no longer required to purchase coverage. Instead, FEMA uses its tools and resources to determine the first-floor height of a building as one of the factors used when calculating rates. 

  • Under NFIP's pricing approach, a property owner may choose to provide an EC and submit it to their agent to determine if it will lower their insurance cost. ECs continue to be used for floodplain management building requirements, which can affect eligibility for Community Rating System discounts. 

    Should your client choose to obtain an Elevation Certificate, each year at the time of renewal, review the rate they would get utilizing the certificate. Insurance agents are responsible for determining the best rate and coverage for their clients, so this is a vital step that must be done every year.

  • The first thing they should do is to contact their local floodplain manager and find out if one is on file for the property.

    If not, they can hire a land surveyor, engineer, or architect to complete one. The floodplain manager often works for or in a community's local building, permitting, engineering or land use department.

Encourage clients to learn more

Elevation Certificates (ECs) help inform mitigation actions that will lower flood risk. They will also continue to be used for floodplain management building requirements, which can affect eligibility for Community Rating System discounts. Encourage clients to learn more and take action to acquire a certificate for their property to reduce risk and, possibly, their premiums.