Land Surveying Services
Elevation Certificate
An elevation certificate is the FEMA form that records a structure's elevations against the base flood elevation. The flood map determines which zone a property is in; the certificate documents how the building sits relative to the base flood elevation, measured and certified by a surveyor.
What this service involves
Overview
The certificate is prepared on the FEMA form and records the elevations of the structure, including the lowest floor and lowest adjacent grade, against the base flood elevation, establishing whether the structure sits above it.
Lenders, insurance agents and FEMA each ask for the certificate for their own purposes. Insurers rate policies, and FEMA rules on a Letter of Map Amendment. Our part is measuring and certifying the elevations.
Although not completely conclusive, you can see whether your property may lie within a floodplain by visiting the FEMA Flood Map links on our Useful Links page.
Common uses
- Providing elevations a lender or insurer has asked for
- Letter of Map Amendment requests
- Lender requirements in flood zones
- New construction in or near a floodplain
Who this service is for
- Homeowners
- Lenders
- Insurance Agents
- Builders
What you receive
- Completed FEMA Elevation Certificate, signed and sealed
- PDF delivered by email
- Signed hardcopies upon request
How the process works
Step 1 — Contact Us
You contact us by quote request or phone with the property address and who is requesting the certificate. We'll get back to you with a quote as soon as possible.
Step 2 — Review and Confirm
We check the FEMA flood map for the property and confirm scope, pricing, and timeline with you.
Step 3 — Fieldwork Scheduled
Our in-house field crew measures the structure and ground elevations and ties them to a benchmark.
Step 4 — Office Processing
We complete the FEMA form in the office and review it before it goes out.
Step 5 — Delivery
The certificate is delivered by email as a PDF (signed hardcopies available upon request).
Frequently asked questions
What does the certificate actually establish?
It records the structure's elevations against the base flood elevation, certified by a Registered Professional Land Surveyor. What is done with those elevations is for others to decide: insurers rate policies, and FEMA rules on a Letter of Map Amendment. We provide the measurements, not the outcome.
How long does it take?
Most elevation certificates are completed within a few business days of the field visit. Tell us if you have a closing or policy deadline and we will schedule accordingly.
Related services
Plot Plan (Site Plan)
A drawing of proposed improvements, such as a residence or accessory building, on a property, typically for permitting.
Title Survey
A comprehensive survey of boundary lines, right-of-way lines, and easements for buyers, sellers, lenders, and title companies, usually needed for a real estate transaction.
Topographic Survey
A survey showing the contours and elevations of a property.
Sources
- 1. FEMA — Letter of Map Amendment and Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill. FEMA's own description of the map-change process an elevation certificate supports. FEMA decides a map amendment; we supply the certified elevations. Accessed .
- 2. FEMA Flood Map Service Center. The effective flood map, which determines the zone a property sits in. The certificate records elevations against it. Accessed .