An elevation certificate lists different information, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the location of a building, the lowest points of elevation and more. It is often used in the process of determining flood insurance rates, as well as to enforce local construction ordinances.
If you are not sure whether you need this certificate, it probably means that your property is not at high risk for flooding, otherwise you would know that you need the FEMA’s elevation certificate before you are allowed to purchase flood insurance.
There is a base flood elevation, and this certificate compares your property’s elevation with it, determining the flood risk. This document also lets you know how much you can expect to pay for a flood insurance policy.
Colorado ILC Services technicians advise that if you already have this certificate and you make some changes to your property, such as building an addition, you might need a new certificate, as the modifications may change the lowest point of elevation of your home.
To get an elevation certificate, contact your local municipal office and ask whether your community is a part of the National Flood Insurance Program, as in this case, your certificate may already be on file there. If it isn’t, you will have to hire a land surveyor to complete a certificate for you.
