Without an elevation certificate, you may pay more than you actually owe therefore, obtaining an elevation certificate is very important. If your lowest floor is elevated above base flood elevation, your rates will likely be low. If your lowest floor is a basement below ground, you are likely well below base flood elevation and your rates will be high. If your property is located in an A- or V-zone and you have been paying subsidized rates, you will need an elevation certificate to determine your actual flood risk and ensure that FEMA charges you fairly and accurately as your subsidies are phased out. If the land that your structure sits on is high, an elevation certificate can also help you prove that your land is high enough that it should be classified as a lower-risk flood zone. For examples, see the FEMA graphic below (from the Homeowner’s Guide To Elevation Certificates):Įlevation Certificate (EC): An elevation certificate determines the elevation of your structure (the lowest floor) in relation to the base flood elevation, the benchmark flood height used on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (see above for more information about base flood elevation). The further the structure is below the BFE, the higher its rates will be. If the structure is below the BFE, particularly if it has a below-grade (below ground) crawl space or basement, the risk of flooding for that structure is high and flood insurance rates will be accordingly high. If the structure is elevated above the BFE, it has a low risk of flooding and will receive lower flood insurance rates. The BFE is used to determine the risk of flooding for each structure in A- and V-zones by comparing the BFE to the elevation of the lowest floor of the structure. For example, “EL 3” means the base flood elevation is 3 feet. Underneath each A- or V-zone designation the BFE will be marked as “EL #”, where # is a number of feet that varies by location. The BFE is expressed on a flood map as a number of feet. The BFE is identified in the Special Flood Hazard Area, made up of A- and V-zones. Base Flood Elevation (BFE): The expected height of water during a flood that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year.
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