Form FEMA Form 086-0-33 FEMA Form 086-0-33 Elevation Certificate

National Flood Insurance Program

Elevation Certificate
and
Instructions

National Flood Insurance Program
Elevation Certificate
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice
Public reporting burden for this data collection is estimated to average 3.75 hours per response. The burden estimate includes
the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing
and submitting this form. You are not required to respond to this collection of information unless a valid OMB control number is
displayed on this form. Send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden
to: Information Collections Management, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street
SW, Washington DC 20472, Paperwork Reduction Project (1660-0008). NOTE: Do not send your completed form to this address.

Privacy Act Statement
Authority: Title 44 CFR § 61.7 and 61.8.
Principal Purpose(s): This information is being collected for the primary purpose of estimate the risk premium rates necessary to
provide flood insurance for new or substantially improved structures in designated Special Flood Hazard Areas.
Routine Use(s): The information on this form may be disclosed as generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b) of the Privacy Act of
1974, as amended. This includes using this information as necessary and authorized by the routine uses published in DHS/FEMA-003
– National Flood Insurance Program Files System or Records Notice 73 Fed. Reg. 77747 (December 19, 2008); DHS/FEMA/NFIP/
LOMA-1 – National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) System of Records Notice 71 Fed. Reg. 7990
(February 15, 2006); and upon written request, written consent, by agreement, or as required by law.
Disclosure: The disclosure of information on this form is voluntary; however, failure to provide the information requested may result
in the inability to obtain flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program or may be subject to higher premium rates for
flood insurance. Information will only be released as permitted by law.

Purpose of the Elevation Certificate
The Elevation Certificate is an important administrative tool of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It is to be used to
provide elevation information necessary to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances, to determine the
proper insurance premium rate, and to support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision based
on fill (LOMR-F).
The Elevation Certificate is required in order to properly rate Post-FIRM buildings, which are buildings constructed after publication of
the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), located in flood insurance Zones A1–A30, AE, AH, A (with BFE), VE, V1–V30, V (with BFE), AR,
AR/A, AR/AE, AR/A1–A30, AR/AH, and AR/AO. The Elevation Certificate is not required for Pre-FIRM buildings unless the building is
being rated under the optional Post-FIRM flood insurance rules.
As part of the agreement for making flood insurance available in a community, the NFIP requires the community to adopt floodplain
management regulations that specify minimum requirements for reducing flood losses. One such requirement is for the community
to obtain the elevation of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new and substantially improved buildings, and maintain a
record of such information. The Elevation Certificate provides a way for a community to document compliance with the community’s
floodplain management ordinance.
Use of this certificate does not provide a waiver of the flood insurance purchase requirement. Only a LOMA or LOMR-F from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can amend the FIRM and remove the Federal mandate for a lending institution to
require the purchase of flood insurance. However, the lending institution has the option of requiring flood insurance even if a LOMA/
LOMR-F has been issued by FEMA. The Elevation Certificate may be used to support a LOMA or LOMR-F request. Lowest floor and
lowest adjacent grade elevations certified by a surveyor or engineer will be required if the certificate is used to support a LOMA or
LOMR-F request. A LOMA or LOMR-F request must be submitted with either a completed FEMA MT-EZ or MT-1 package, whichever is
appropriate.
This certificate is used only to certify building elevations. A separate certificate is required for floodproofing. Under the NFIP, nonresidential buildings can be floodproofed up to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). A floodproofed building is a building that
has been designed and constructed to be watertight (substantially impermeable to floodwaters) below the BFE. Floodproofing
of residential buildings is not permitted under the NFIP unless FEMA has granted the community an exception for residential
floodproofed basements. The community must adopt standards for design and construction of floodproofed basements before
FEMA will grant a basement exception. For both floodproofed non-residential buildings and residential floodproofed basements in
communities that have been granted an exception by FEMA, a floodproofing certificate is required.
Additional guidance can be found in FEMA Publication 467-1, Floodplain Management Bulletin: Elevation Certificate, available on
FEMA’s website at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1727.

FEMA Form 086-0-33

F-053 (3/12)

ELEVATION CERTIFICATE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

OMB No. 1660-0008
Expiration Date: March 31, 2012

Important: Follow the instructions on pages 1–9.

National Flood Insurance Program

SECTION A – PROPERTY INFORMATION

For Insurance Company Use

A1. Building Owner’s Name

Policy Number:

A2. Building Street Address (including Apt., Unit, Suite, and/or Bldg. No.) or P.O. Route and Box No.

Company NAIC Number:

City

State

ZIP Code

A3. Property Description (Lot and Block Numbers, Tax Parcel Number, Legal Description, etc.)
A4.
A5.
A6.
A7.
A8.

Building Use (e.g., Residential, Non-Residential, Addition, Accessory, etc.)
Latitude/Longitude: Lat.
Long.
Horizontal Datum:
NAD 1927
NAD 1983
Attach at least 2 photographs of the building if the Certificate is being used to obtain flood insurance.
Building Diagram Number
A9. For a building with an attached garage:
For a building with a crawlspace or enclosure(s):
a) Square footage of crawlspace or enclosure(s)
sq ft
a) Square footage of attached garage
sq ft
b) No. of permanent flood openings in the crawlspace or
b) N
 umber of permanent flood openings in the attached garage
enclosure(s) within 1.0 foot above adjacent grade
within 1.0 foot above adjacent grade
c) Total net area of flood openings in A8.b
sq ft
c) Total net area of flood openings in A9.b
sq ft
d) Engineered flood openings?
Yes
No
d) Engineered flood openings?
Yes
No

SECTION B – FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM) INFORMATION
B1. NFIP Community Name & Community Number

B2. County Name

B4. Map/Panel Number

B7. FIRM Panel Effective/
Revised Date

B5. Suffix

B6. FIRM Index Date

B3. State
B8. Flood Zone(s)

B9. Base Flood Elevation(s) (Zone
AO, use base flood depth)

B10. Indicate the source of the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) data or base flood depth entered in Item B9:
FIS Profile
FIRM
Community Determined
Other/Source:
B11. Indicate elevation datum used for BFE in Item B9:
NGVD 1929
NAVD 1988
Other/Source:
B12. Is the building located in a Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) area or Otherwise Protected Area (OPA)?
Designation Date:
/
/

CBRS
OPA

Yes

No

SECTION C – BUILDING ELEVATION INFORMATION (SURVEY REQUIRED)
C1. Building elevations are based on:
Construction Drawings*
Building Under Construction*
*A new Elevation Certificate will be required when construction of the building is complete.

Finished Construction

C2. Elevations – Zones A1–A30, AE, AH, A (with BFE), VE, V1–V30, V (with BFE), AR, AR/A, AR/AE, AR/A1–A30, AR/AH, AR/AO. Complete Items
C2.a–h below according to the building diagram specified in Item A7. In Puerto Rico only, enter meters.

Benchmark Utilized:

Vertical Datum:

Indicate elevation datum used for the elevations in items a) through h) below.
Datum used for building elevations must be the same as that used for the BFE.

a) Top of bottom floor (including basement, crawlspace, or enclosure floor)

b) Top of the next higher floor

c) Bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member (V Zones only)

d) Attached garage (top of slab)

e) Lowest elevation of machinery or equipment servicing the building
(Describe type of equipment and location in Comments)

f) Lowest adjacent (finished) grade next to building (LAG)

g) Highest adjacent (finished) grade next to building (HAG)

h) Lowest adjacent grade at lowest elevation of deck or stairs, including
structural support

NGVD 1929

NAVD 1988

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.

Other/Source:

Check the measurement used.
feet
meters
feet
meters
feet
meters
feet
meters
feet
meters
feet
feet
feet

meters
meters
meters

SECTION D – SURVEYOR, ENGINEER, OR ARCHITECT CERTIFICATION
This certification is to be signed and sealed by a land surveyor, engineer, or architect authorized by law to certify elevation
information. I certify that the information on this Certificate represents my best efforts to interpret the data available.
I understand that any false statement may be punishable by fine or imprisonment under 18 U.S. Code, Section 1001.
Check here if comments are provided on back of form.
Check here if attachments.

Were latitude and longitude in Section A provided by a
licensed land surveyor?
Yes
No

Certifier’s Name

License Number

Title

Company Name

Address

City

State

Signature

Date

Telephone

FEMA Form 086-0-33

See reverse side for continuation.

PLACE
SEAL
HERE

ZIP Code

Replaces all previous editions.

ELEVATION CERTIFICATE, page 2
IMPORTANT: In these spaces, copy the corresponding information from Section A.

For Insurance Company Use

Building Street Address (including Apt., Unit, Suite, and/or Bldg. No.) or P.O. Route and Box No.

Policy Number:

City

Company NAIC Number:

State

ZIP Code

SECTION D – SURVEYOR, ENGINEER, OR ARCHITECT CERTIFICATION (Continued)
Copy both sides of this Elevation Certificate for (1) community official, (2) insurance agent/company, and (3) building owner.
Comments

Signature

Date

SECTION E – BUILDING ELEVATION INFORMATION (SURVEY NOT REQUIRED) FOR ZONE AO AND ZONE A (WITHOUT BFE)
For Zones AO and A (without BFE), complete Items E1–E5. If the Certificate is intended to support a LOMA or LOMR-F request, complete Sections A, B,and C.
For Items E1–E4, use natural grade, if available. Check the measurement used. In Puerto Rico only, enter meters.
E1. Provide elevation information for the following and check the appropriate boxes to show whether the elevation is above or below the highest adjacent
grade (HAG) and the lowest adjacent grade (LAG).
a) Top of bottom floor (including basement, crawlspace, or enclosure) is
.

feet
meters
above or
below the HAG.
b) Top of bottom floor (including basement, crawlspace, or enclosure) is
.

feet
meters
above or
below the LAG.
E2. For Building Diagrams 6–9 with permanent flood openings provided in Section A Items 8 and/or 9 (see pages 8–9 of Instructions),
the next higher floor (elevation C2.b in the diagrams) of the building is
.

feet
meters
above or
E3. Attached garage (top of slab) is
.

feet
meters
above or

below the HAG.
below the HAG.

E4. Top of platform of machinery and/or equipment servicing the building is

below the HAG.

.

feet

meters

above or

E5. Zone AO only: If no flood depth number is available, is the top of the bottom floor elevated in accordance with the community’s floodplain management
ordinance?
Yes
No
Unknown. The local official must certify this information in Section G.

SECTION F – PROPERTY OWNER (OR OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE) CERTIFICATION
The property owner or owner’s authorized representative who completes Sections A, B, and E for Zone A (without a FEMA-issued or community-issued BFE) or
Zone AO must sign here. The statements in Sections A, B, and E are correct to the best of my knowledge.
Property Owner or Owner’s Authorized Representative’s Name
Address

City

State

ZIP Code

Signature

Date

Telephone

Comments

Check here if attachments.

SECTION G – COMMUNITY INFORMATION (OPTIONAL)
The local official who is authorized by law or ordinance to administer the community’s floodplain management ordinance can complete Sections A, B, C (or E), and
G of this Elevation Certificate. Complete the applicable item(s) and sign below. Check the measurement used in Items G8–G10. In Puerto Rico only, enter meters.

G1.
G2.
G3.

The information in Section C was taken from other documentation that has been signed and sealed by a licensed surveyor, engineer, or architect
who is authorized by law to certify elevation information. (Indicate the source and date of the elevation data in the Comments area below.)
A community official completed Section E for a building located in Zone A (without a FEMA-issued or community-issued BFE) or Zone AO.
The following information (Items G4–G9) is provided for community floodplain management purposes.

G4. Permit Number

G5. Date Permit Issued

G6. Date Certificate Of Compliance/Occupancy Issued

G7. This permit has been issued for:
New Construction
Substantial Improvement
.

G8. Elevation of as-built lowest floor (including basement) of the building:
G9. BFE or (in Zone AO) depth of flooding at the building site:
.

G10. Community’s design flood elevation:
.

Local Official’s Name

Title

Community Name

Telephone

Signature

Date

feet
feet
feet

meters
meters
meters

Datum
Datum
Datum

Comments

FEMA Form 086-0-33

Check here if attachments.
Replaces all previous editions.

ELEVATION CERTIFICATE, page 3

Building Photographs
See Instructions for Item A6.

IMPORTANT: In these spaces, copy the corresponding information from Section A.

For Insurance Company Use

Building Street Address (including Apt., Unit, Suite, and/or Bldg. No.) or P.O. Route and Box No.

Policy Number:

City

Company NAIC Number:

State

ZIP Code

If using the Elevation Certificate to obtain NFIP flood insurance, affix at least 2 building photographs below according to the instructions
for Item A6. Identify all photographs with date taken; “Front View” and “Rear View”; and, if required, “Right Side View” and “Left
Side View.” When applicable, photographs must show the foundation with representative examples of the flood openings or vents, as
indicated in Section A8. If submitting more photographs than will fit on this page, use the Continuation Page.

FEMA Form 086-0-33

Replaces all previous editions.

ELEVATION CERTIFICATE, page 4

Building Photographs
Continuation Page

IMPORTANT: In these spaces, copy the corresponding information from Section A.

For Insurance Company Use

Building Street Address (including Apt., Unit, Suite, and/or Bldg. No.) or P.O. Route and Box No.

Policy Number:

City

Company NAIC Number:

State

ZIP Code

If submitting more photographs than will fit on the preceding page, affix the additional photographs below. Identify all photographs with:
date taken; “Front View” and “Rear View”; and, if required, “Right Side View” and “Left Side View.” When applicable, photographs must
show the foundation with representative examples of the flood openings or vents, as indicated in Section A8.

FEMA Form 086-0-33

Replaces all previous editions.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

National Flood Insurance Program

Instructions for Completing
the Elevation Certificate

OMB No. 1660-0008
Expiration Date: March 31, 2012

The Elevation Certificate is to be completed by a land surveyor, engineer, or architect who is authorized by law to certify elevation
information when elevation information is required for Zones A1–A30, AE, AH, A (with BFE), VE, V1–V30, V (with BFE),
AR, AR/A, AR/AE, AR/A1–A30, AR/AH, or AR/AO. Community officials who are authorized by law or ordinance to provide
floodplain management information may also complete this form. For Zones AO and A (without BFE), a community official,
a property owner, or an owner’s representative may provide information on this certificate, unless the elevations are intended
for use in supporting a request for a LOMA or LOMR-F. Certified elevations must be included if the purpose of completing the
Elevation Certificate is to obtain a LOMA or LOMR-F.
The property owner, the owner’s representative, or local official who is authorized by law to administer the community
floodplain ordinance can complete Section A and Section B. The partially completed form can then be given to the land surveyor,
engineer, or architect to complete Section C. The land surveyor, engineer, or architect should verify the information provided by
the property owner or owner’s representative to ensure that this certificate is complete.
In Puerto Rico only, elevations for building information and flood hazard information may be entered in meters.
SECTION A – PROPERTY INFORMATION

Items A1–A4. This section identifies the building, its location, and its owner. Enter the name(s) of the building owner(s),
the building’s complete street address, and the lot and block numbers. If the building’s address is different from the owner’s
address, enter the address of the building being certified. If the address is a rural route or a Post Office box number, enter the
lot and block numbers, the tax parcel number, the legal description, or an abbreviated location description based on distance
and direction from a fixed point of reference. For the purposes of this certificate, “building” means both a building and a
manufactured (mobile) home.
A map may be attached to this certificate to show the location of the building on the property. A tax map, FIRM, or detailed
community map is appropriate. If no map is available, provide a sketch of the property location, and the location of the building
on the property. Include appropriate landmarks such as nearby roads, intersections, and bodies of water. For building use,
indicate whether the building is residential, non-residential, an addition to an existing residential or non-residential building,
an accessory building (e.g., garage), or other type of structure. Use the Comments area of the appropriate section if needed, or
attach additional comments.
Item A5. Provide latitude and longitude coordinates for the center of the front of the building. Use either decimal degrees (e.g.,
39.5043°, -110.7585°) or degrees, minutes, seconds (e.g., 39° 30' 15.5", -110° 45' 30.7") format. If decimal degrees are used,
provide coordinates to at least 4 decimal places or better. When using degrees, minutes, seconds, provide seconds to at least 1
decimal place or better. The latitude and longitude coordinates must be accurate within 66 feet. When the latitude and longitude
are provided by a surveyor, check the “Yes” box in Section D and indicate the method used to determine the latitude and longitude
in the Comments area of Section D. If the Elevation Certificate is being certified by other than a licensed surveyor, engineer, or
architect, this information is not required. Provide the type of datum used to obtain the latitude and longitude. FEMA prefers the
use of NAD 1983.
Item A6. If the Elevation Certificate is being used to obtain flood insurance through the NFIP, the certifier must provide at least 2
photographs showing the front and rear of the building taken within 90 days from the date of certification. The photographs must
be taken with views confirming the building description and diagram number provided in Section A. To the extent possible, these
photographs should show the entire building including foundation. If the building has split-level or multi-level areas, provide
at least 2 additional photographs showing side views of the building. In addition, when applicable, provide a photograph of the
foundation showing a representative example of the flood openings or vents. All photographs must be in color and measure at
least 3" × 3". Digital photographs are acceptable.
Item A7. Select the diagram on pages 7–9 that best represents the building. Then enter the diagram number and use the diagram
to identify and determine the appropriate elevations requested in Items C2.a–h. If you are unsure of the correct diagram, select
the diagram that most closely resembles the building being certified.
Item A8.a Provide the square footage of the crawlspace or enclosure(s) below the lowest elevated floor of an elevated building
with or without permanent flood openings. Take the measurement from the outside of the crawlspace or enclosure(s). Examples
of elevated buildings constructed with crawlspace and enclosure(s) are shown in Diagrams 6–9 on pages 8–9. Diagram 2, 4, or 9
should be used for a building constructed with a crawlspace floor that is below the exterior grade on all sides.
NFIP Elevation Certificate Instructions – Page 1

Items A8.b–d Enter in Item A8.b the number of permanent flood openings in the crawlspace or enclosure(s) that are no higher
than 1.0 foot above the higher of the exterior or interior grade or floor immediately below the opening. (A permanent flood
opening is a flood vent or other opening that allows the free passage of water automatically in both directions without human
intervention.) If the interior grade elevation is used, note this in the Comments area of Section D. Estimate the total net area of all
such permanent flood openings in square inches, excluding any bars, louvers, or other covers of the permanent flood openings,
and enter the total in Item A8.c. If the net area cannot be reasonably estimated, provide the size of the flood openings without
consideration of any covers and indicate in the Comments area the type of cover that exists in the flood openings. Indicate in
Item A8.d whether the flood openings are engineered. If applicable, attach a copy of the Individual Engineered Flood Openings
Certification or an Evaluation Report issued by the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC ES), if you have it. If the
crawlspace or enclosure(s) have no permanent flood openings, or if the openings are not within 1.0 foot above adjacent grade,
enter “0” (zero) in Items A8.b–c.
Item A9.a Provide the square footage of the attached garage with or without permanent flood openings. Take the measurement
from the outside of the garage.
Items A9.b–d Enter in Item A9.b the number of permanent flood openings in the attached garage that are no higher than 1.0
foot above the higher of the exterior or interior grade or floor immediately below the opening. (A permanent flood opening is a
flood vent or other opening that allows the free passage of water automatically in both directions without human intervention.)
If the interior grade elevation is used, note this in the Comments area of Section D. This includes any openings that are in the
garage door that are no higher than 1.0 foot above the adjacent grade. Estimate the total net area of all such permanent flood
openings in square inches and enter the total in Item A9.c. If the net area cannot be reasonably estimated, provide the size of
the flood openings without consideration of any covers and indicate in the Comments area the type of cover that exists in the
flood openings. Indicate in Item A9.d whether the flood openings are engineered. If applicable, attach a copy of the Individual
Engineered Flood Openings Certification or an Evaluation Report issued by the International Code Council Evaluation Service
(ICC ES), if you have it. If the garage has no permanent flood openings, or if the openings are not within 1.0 foot above adjacent
grade, enter “0” (zero) in Items A9.b–c.
SECTION B – FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM) INFORMATION

Complete the Elevation Certificate on the basis of the FIRM in effect at the time of the certification.
The information for Section B is obtained by reviewing the FIRM panel that includes the building’s location. Information about
the current FIRM is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by calling 1-800-358-9616. If a Letter of
Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR-F) has been issued by FEMA, please provide the letter date and case
number in the Comments area of Section D or Section G, as appropriate.
For a building in an area that has been annexed by one community but is shown on another community’s FIRM, enter the
community name and 6-digit number of the annexing community in Item B1, the name of the county or new county, if
necessary, in Item B2, and the FIRM index date for the annexing community in Item B6. Enter information from the actual FIRM
panel that shows the building location, even if it is the FIRM for the previous jurisdiction, in Items B4, B5, B7, B8, and B9.
If the map in effect at the time of the building’s construction was other than the current FIRM, and you have the past map
information pertaining to the building, provide the information in the Comments area of Section D.
Item B1. NFIP Community Name & Community Number. Enter the complete name of the community in which the building is
located and the associated 6-digit community number. For a newly incorporated community, use the name and 6-digit number
of the new community. Under the NFIP, a “community” is any State or area or political subdivision thereof, or any Indian tribe
or authorized native organization, that has authority to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations for the areas within
its jurisdiction. To determine the current community number, see the NFIP Community Status Book, available on FEMA’s web site at
http://www.fema.gov/fema/csb.shtm, or call 1-800-358-9616.
Item B2. County Name. Enter the name of the county or counties in which the community is located. For an unincorporated area
of a county, enter “unincorporated area.” For an independent city, enter “independent city.”
Item B3. State. Enter the 2-letter state abbreviation (for example, VA, TX, CA).
Items B4–B5. Map/Panel Number and Suffix. Enter the 10-character “Map Number” or “Community Panel Number” shown on
the FIRM where the building or manufactured (mobile) home is located. For maps in a county-wide format, the sixth character
of the “Map Number” is the letter “C” followed by a 4-digit map number. For maps not in a county-wide format, enter the
“Community Panel Number” shown on the FIRM.
NFIP Elevation Certificate Instructions – Page 2

Item B6. FIRM Index Date. Enter the effective date or the map revised date shown on the FIRM Index.
Item B7. FIRM Panel Effective/Revised Date. Enter the map effective date or the map revised date shown on the FIRM panel.
This will be the latest of all dates shown on the map. The current FIRM panel effective date can be determined by calling
1-800-358-9616.
Item B8. Flood Zone(s). Enter the flood zone, or flood zones, in which the building is located. All flood zones containing the
letter “A” or “V” are considered Special Flood Hazard Areas. The flood zones are A, AE, A1–A30, V, VE, V1–V30, AH, AO, AR,
AR/A, AR/AE, AR/A1–A30, AR/AH, and AR/AO. Each flood zone is defined in the legend of the FIRM panel on which it appears.
Item B9. Base Flood Elevation(s). Using the appropriate Flood Insurance Study (FIS) Profile, Floodway Data Table, or FIRM panel,
locate the property and enter the BFE (or base flood depth) of the building site. If the building is located in more than 1 flood zone
in Item B8, list all appropriate BFEs in Item B9. BFEs are shown on a FIRM or FIS Profile for Zones A1–A30, AE, AH, V1–V30, VE,
AR, AR/A, AR/AE, AR/A1–A30, AR/AH, and AR/AO; flood depth numbers are shown for Zone AO. Use the AR BFE if the building
is located in any of Zones AR/A, AR/AE, AR/A1 A30, AR/AH, or AR/AO. In A or V zones where BFEs are not provided on the
FIRM, BFEs may be available from another source. For example, the community may have established BFEs or obtained BFE data
from other sources for the building site. For subdivisions and other developments of more than 50 lots or 5 acres, establishment
of BFEs is required by the community’s floodplain management ordinance. If a BFE is obtained from another source, enter the
BFE in Item B9. In an A Zone where BFEs are not available, complete Section E and enter N/A for Section B, Item B9. Enter the BFE
to the nearest tenth of a foot (nearest tenth of a meter, in Puerto Rico).
Item B10. Indicate the source of the BFE that you entered in Item B9. If the BFE is from a source other than FIS Profile, FIRM, or
community, describe the source of the BFE.
Item B11. Indicate the elevation datum to which the elevations on the applicable FIRM are referenced as shown on the map
legend. The vertical datum is shown in the Map Legend and/or the Notes to Users on the FIRM.
Item B12. Indicate whether the building is located in a Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) area or Otherwise Protected
Area (OPA). (OPAs are portions of coastal barriers that are owned by Federal, State, or local governments or by certain nonprofit organizations and used primarily for natural resources protection.) Federal flood insurance is prohibited in designated
CBRS areas or OPAs for buildings or manufactured (mobile) homes built or substantially improved after the date of the CBRS or
OPA designation. For the first CBRS designations, that date is October 1, 1983. Information about CBRS areas and OPAs may be
obtained on the FEMA web site at http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/cbrs/cbrs.shtm.
SECTION C – BUILDING ELEVATION INFORMATION (SURVEY REQUIRED)

Complete Section C if the building is located in any of Zones A1–A30, AE, AH, A (with BFE), VE, V1–V30, V (with BFE), AR,
AR/A, AR/AE, AR/A1–A30, AR/AH, or AR/AO, or if this certificate is being used to support a request for a LOMA or LOMR-F. If
the building is located in Zone AO or Zone A (without BFE), complete Section E instead. To ensure that all required elevations are
obtained, it may be necessary to enter the building (for instance, if the building has a basement or sunken living room, split-level
construction, or machinery and equipment).
Surveyors may not be able to gain access to some crawlspaces to shoot the elevation of the crawlspace floor. If access to the
crawlspace is limited or cannot be gained, follow one of these procedures.
• Use a yardstick or tape measure to measure the height from the floor of the crawlspace to the “next higher floor,” and then
subtract the crawlspace height from the elevation of the “next higher floor.” If there is no access to the crawlspace, use the
exterior grade next to the structure to measure the height of the crawlspace to the “next higher floor.”
• Contact the local floodplain administrator of the community in which the building is located. The community may have
documentation of the elevation of the crawlspace floor as part of the permit issued for the building.
• If the property owner has documentation or knows the height of the crawlspace floor to the next higher floor, try to verify
this by looking inside the crawlspace through any openings or vents.
In all 3 cases, provide the elevation in the Comments area of Section D on the back of the form and a brief description of how
the elevation was obtained.
Item C1. Indicate whether the elevations to be entered in this section are based on construction drawings, a building under
construction, or finished construction. For either of the first 2 choices, a post-construction Elevation Certificate will be required
NFIP Elevation Certificate Instructions – Page 3

when construction is complete. If the building is under construction, include only those elevations that can be surveyed in
Items C2.a–h. Use the Comments area of Section D to provide elevations obtained from the construction plans or drawings.
Select “Finished Construction” only when all machinery and/or equipment such as furnaces, hot water heaters, heat pumps, air
conditioners, and elevators and their associated equipment have been installed and the grading around the building is completed.
Item C2. A field survey is required for Items C2.a–h. Most control networks will assign a unique identifier for each benchmark.
For example, the National Geodetic Survey uses the Permanent Identifier (PID). For the benchmark utilized, provide the PID or
other unique identifier assigned by the maintainer of the benchmark. For GPS survey, indicate the benchmark used for the base
station, the Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) sites used for an On-line Positioning User Service (OPUS) solution
(also attach the OPUS report), or the name of the Real Time Network used.
Also provide the vertical datum for the benchmark elevation. All elevations for the certificate, including the elevations for Items
C2.a–h, must use the same datum on which the BFE is based. Show the conversion from the field survey datum used if it differs
from the datum used for the BFE entered in Item B9 and indicate the conversion software used. Show the datum conversion, if
applicable, in the Comments area of Section D.
For property experiencing ground subsidence, the most recent reference mark elevations must be used for determining building
elevations. However, when subsidence is involved, the BFE should not be adjusted. Enter elevations in Items C2.a–h to the nearest
tenth of a foot (nearest tenth of a meter, in Puerto Rico).
Items C2.a–d Enter the building elevations (excluding the attached garage) indicated by the selected building diagram (Item A7)
in Items C2.a–c. If there is an attached garage, enter the elevation for top of attached garage slab in Item C2.d. (Because elevation
for top of attached garage slab is self-explanatory, attached garages are not illustrated in the diagrams.) If the building is located
in a V zone on the FIRM, complete Item C2.c. If the flood zone cannot be determined, enter elevations for all of Items C2.a–h.
For buildings in A zones, elevations a, b, d, and e should be measured at the top of the floor. For buildings in V zones, elevation
c must be measured at the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the floor (see drawing below). For buildings
elevated on a crawlspace, Diagrams 8 and 9, enter the elevation of the top of the crawlspace floor in Item C2.a, whether or not
the crawlspace has permanent flood openings (flood vents). If any item does not apply to the building, enter “N/A” for not applicable.

BUILDING ON
SLAB

C2.a

A ZONES

BUILDING ON PILES,
PIERS, OR COLUMNS

BUILDING WITH
BASEMENT

C2.a

V ZONES

A ZONES

V ZONES

A ZONES

C2.a
BASE FLOOD
ELEVATION

C2.c

ADJACENT
GRADE

C2.c
BASE FLOOD
ELEVATION

Item C2.e Enter the lowest platform elevation of at least 1 of the following machinery and equipment items: elevators and
their associated equipment, furnaces, hot water heaters, heat pumps, and air conditioners in an attached garage or enclosure
or on an open utility platform that provides utility services for the building. Note that elevations for these specific machinery
and equipment items are required in order to rate the building for flood insurance. Local floodplain management officials are
required to ensure that all machinery and equipment servicing the building are protected from flooding. Thus, local officials
may require that elevation information for all machinery and equipment, including ductwork, be documented on the Elevation
Certificate. If the machinery and/or equipment is mounted to a wall, pile, etc., enter the platform elevation of the machinery and/
or equipment. Indicate machinery/equipment type and its general location, e.g., on floor inside garage or on platform affixed to
exterior wall, in the Comments area of Section D or Section G, as appropriate. If this item does not apply to the building, enter “N/A” for
not applicable.

NFIP Elevation Certificate Instructions – Page 4

Items C2.f–g Enter the elevation of the ground, sidewalk, or patio slab immediately next to the building. For Zone AO, use the
natural grade elevation, if available. This measurement must be to the nearest tenth of a foot (nearest tenth of a meter, in Puerto
Rico) if this certificate is being used to support a request for a LOMA or LOMR-F.
Item C2.h Enter the lowest grade elevation at the deck support or stairs. For Zone AO, use the natural grade elevation, if available.
This measurement must be to the nearest tenth of a foot (nearest tenth of a meter, in Puerto Rico) if this certificate is being used
to support a request for a LOMA or LOMR-F.
SECTION D – SURVEYOR, ENGINEER, OR ARCHITECT CERTIFICATION

Complete as indicated. This section of the Elevation Certificate may be signed by only a land surveyor, engineer, or architect
who is authorized by law to certify elevation information. Place your license number, your seal (as allowed by the State licensing
board), your signature, and the date in the box in Section D. You are certifying that the information on this certificate represents
your best efforts to interpret the data available and that you understand that any false statement may be punishable by fine or
imprisonment under 18 U.S. Code, Section 1001. Use the Comments area of Section D, on the back of the certificate, to provide
datum, elevation, openings, or other relevant information not specified on the front.
SECTION E – BUILDING ELEVATION INFORMATION (SURVEY NOT REQUIRED)
FOR ZONE AO AND ZONE A (WITHOUT BFE)

Complete Section E if the building is located in Zone AO or Zone A (without BFE). Otherwise, complete Section C instead. Explain
in the Section F Comments area if the measurement provided under Items E1–E4 is based on the “natural grade.”
Items E1.a and b Enter in Item E1.a the height to the nearest tenth of a foot (tenth of a meter in Puerto Rico) of the top of the
bottom floor (as indicated in the applicable diagram) above or below the highest adjacent grade (HAG). Enter in Item E1.b the
height to the nearest tenth of a foot (tenth of a meter in Puerto Rico) of the top of the bottom floor (as indicated in the applicable
diagram) above or below the lowest adjacent grade (LAG). For buildings in Zone AO, the community’s floodplain management
ordinance requires the lowest floor of the building be elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth
number on the FIRM. Buildings in Zone A (without BFE) may qualify for a lower insurance rate if an engineered BFE is developed
at the site.
Item E2. For Building Diagrams 6–9 with permanent flood openings (see pages 8–9), enter the height to the nearest tenth of a
foot (tenth of a meter in Puerto Rico) of the next higher floor or elevated floor (as indicated in the applicable diagram) above or
below the highest adjacent grade (HAG).
Item E3. Enter the height to the nearest tenth of a foot (tenth of a meter in Puerto Rico), in relation to the highest adjacent grade
next to the building, for the top of attached garage slab. (Because elevation for top of attached garage slab is self-explanatory,
attached garages are not illustrated in the diagrams.) If this item does not apply to the building, enter “N/A” for not applicable.
Item E4. Enter the height to the nearest tenth of a foot (tenth of a meter in Puerto Rico), in relation to the highest adjacent grade
next to the building, of the platform elevation that supports the machinery and/or equipment servicing the building. Indicate
machinery/equipment type in the Comments area of Section F. If this item does not apply to the building, enter “N/A” for not applicable.
Item E5. For those communities where this base flood depth is not available, the community will need to determine whether the
top of the bottom floor is elevated in accordance with the community’s floodplain management ordinance.
Complete as indicated. This section is provided for certification of measurements taken by a property owner or property owner’s
representative when responding to Sections A, B, and E. The address entered in this section must be the actual mailing address of
the property owner or property owner’s representative who provided the information on the certificate.
SECTION F – PROPERTY OWNER (OR OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE) CERTIFICATION

Complete as indicated. This section is provided for certification of measurements taken by a property owner or property owner’s
representative when responding to Sections A, B, and E. The address entered in this section must be the actual mailing address of
the property owner or property owner’s representative who provided the information on the certificate.

NFIP Elevation Certificate Instructions – Page 5

SECTION G – COMMUNITY INFORMATION (OPTIONAL)

Complete as indicated. The community official who is authorized by law or ordinance to administer the community’s floodplain
management ordinance can complete Sections A, B, C (or E), and G of this Elevation Certificate. Section C may be filled in by the
local official as provided in the instructions below for Item G1. If the authorized community official completes Sections C, E, or
G, complete the appropriate item(s) and sign this section.
Check Item G1 if Section C is completed with elevation data from other documentation, including elevations obtained from
the Community Rating System Elevation Software, that has been signed and sealed by a licensed surveyor, engineer, or architect
who is authorized by law to certify elevation information. Indicate the source of the elevation data and the date obtained in the
Comments area of Section G. If you are both a community official and a licensed land surveyor, engineer, or architect authorized
by law to certify elevation information, and you performed the actual survey for a building in Zones A1–A30, AE, AH, A (with
BFE), VE, V1–V30, V (with BFE), AR, AR/A, AR/A1–A30, AR/AE, AR/AH, or AR/AO, you must also complete Section D.
Check Item G2 if information is entered in Section E by the community for a building in Zone A (without a FEMA-issued or
community-issued BFE) or Zone AO.
Check Item G3 if the information in Items G4–G10 has been completed for community floodplain management purposes to
document the as-built lowest floor elevation of the building. Section C of the Elevation Certificate records the elevation of various
building components but does not determine the lowest floor of the building or whether the building, as constructed, complies
with the community’s floodplain management ordinance. This must be done by the community. Items G4–G10 provide a way
to document these determinations.
Item G4. Permit Number. Enter the permit number or other identifier to key the Elevation Certificate to the permit issued for
the building.
Item G5. Date Permit Issued. Enter the date the permit was issued for the building.
Item G6. Date Certificate of Compliance/Occupancy Issued. Enter the date that the Certificate of Compliance or Occupancy
or similar written official documentation of as-built lowest floor elevation was issued by the community as evidence that all
work authorized by the floodplain development permit has been completed in accordance with the community’s floodplain
management laws or ordinances.
Item G7. New Construction or Substantial Improvement. Check the applicable box. “Substantial Improvement” means any
reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a building, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the
market value of the building before the start of construction of the improvement. The term includes buildings that have incurred
substantial damage, regardless of the actual repair work performed.
Item G8. As-built lowest floor elevation. Enter the elevation of the lowest floor (including basement) when the construction
of the building is completed and a final inspection has been made to confirm that the building is built in accordance with the
permit, the approved plans, and the community’s floodplain management laws or ordinances. Indicate the elevation datum used.
Item G9. BFE. Using the appropriate FIRM panel, FIS Profile, or other data source, locate the property and enter the BFE (or base
flood depth) of the building site. Indicate the elevation datum used.
Item G10. Community’s design flood elevation. Enter the elevation (including freeboard above the BFE) to which the community
requires the lowest floor to be elevated. Indicate the elevation datum used.
Enter your name, title, and telephone number, and the name of the community. Sign and enter the date in the appropriate blanks.

NFIP Elevation Certificate Instructions – Page 6

Building Diagrams
The following diagrams illustrate various types of buildings. Compare the features of the building being certified with the
features shown in the diagrams and select the diagram most applicable. Enter the diagram number in Item A7, the square footage
of crawlspace or enclosure(s) and the area of flood openings in square inches in Items A8.a–c, the square footage of attached
garage and the area of flood openings in square inches in Items A9.a–c, and the elevations in Items C2.a–h.
In A zones, the floor elevation is taken at the top finished surface of the floor indicated; in V zones, the floor elevation is taken
at the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member (see drawing in instructions for Section C).
DIAGRAM 1A

DIAGRAM 1B

All slab-on-grade single- and multiple-floor buildings
(other than split-level) and high-rise buildings, either
detached or row type (e.g., townhouses); with or
without attached garage.

All raised-slab-on-grade or slab-on-stem-wall-with-fill
single- and multiple-floor buildings (other than splitlevel), either detached or row type (e.g., townhouses);
with or without attached garage.

Distinguishing Feature – The bottom floor is at or above ground
level (grade) on at least 1 side.*

Distinguishing Feature – The bottom floor is at or above ground
level (grade) on at least 1 side.*

C2.b

C2.b
C2.a

GRADE

C2.f–h

NEXT HIGHER
FLOOR

C2.a

NEXT HIGHER
FLOOR

BOTTOM FLOOR

BOTTOM FLOOR

GRADE

(determined by
existing grade)

C2.f–h

(determined by
existing grade)

DIAGRAM 2
All single- and multiple-floor buildings with basement
(other than split-level) and high-rise buildings
with basement, either detached or row type (e.g.,
townhouses); with or without attached garage.
Distinguishing Feature – The bottom floor (basement or
underground garage) is below ground level (grade) on all sides.*

C2.a
NEXT HIGHER
FLOOR

GRADE

C2.f–h

C2.b

BOTTOM FLOOR
BASEMENT

(determined by
existing grade)

* A floor that is below ground level (grade) on all sides is considered a basement even if the floor is used for living purposes, or as an office,
garage, workshop, etc.

NFIP Elevation Certificate Instructions – Page 7

DIAGRAM 3

DIAGRAM 4

All split-level buildings that are slab-on-grade, either
detached or row type (e.g., townhouses); with or without
attached garage.

All split-level buildings (other than slab-on-grade), either
detached or row type (e.g., townhouses); with or without
attached garage.

Distinguishing Feature – The bottom floor (excluding garage) is at
or above ground level (grade) on at least 1 side.*

Distinguishing Feature – The bottom floor (basement or
underground garage) is below ground level (grade) on all sides.*

C2.a
C2.b
HIGHER
FLOORS

GRADE

NEXT HIGHER
FLOOR

BOTTOM
FLOOR

C2.b

C2.a
GRADE

HIGHER
FLOORS
NEXT HIGHER
FLOOR

BOTTOM FLOOR
(BASEMENT)

FLOOR

FLOOR

C2.f–h

(determined by
existing grade)

C2.f–h

(determined by
existing grade)

DIAGRAM 5

DIAGRAM 6

All buildings elevated on piers, posts, piles, columns,
or parallel shear walls. No obstructions below the
elevated floor.

All buildings elevated on piers, posts, piles, columns,
or parallel shear walls with full or partial enclosure
below the elevated floor.

Distinguishing Feature – For all zones, the area below the
elevated floor is open, with no obstruction to flow of floodwaters
(open lattice work and/or insect screening is permissible).

Distinguishing Feature – For all zones, the area below the
elevated floor is enclosed, either partially or fully. In A Zones,
the partially or fully enclosed area below the elevated floor is
with or without openings** present in the walls of the enclosure.
Indicate information about enclosure size and openings in Section
A – Property Information.

C2.a

C2.b

NEXT HIGHER
FLOOR

NEXT HIGHER
FLOOR
FLOOR

C2.a
C2.a

C2.b

ELEVATED
ELEVATED
FLOOR
FLOOR

ELEVATED
FLOOR

FLOOR

A8.a–c

GRADE
GRADE

GRADE

ENCLOSURE

C2.f–h

(determined by
existing grade)

C2.c

(For V zones only)

C2.f-h
C2.f–h

(determined by
existing grade)

C2.c

Determine
enclosure size &
openings, if any.

(For V zones only)

*A
 floor that is below ground level (grade) on all sides is considered a basement even if the floor is used for living purposes, or as an office,
garage, workshop, etc.
** A
 n “opening” is a permanent opening that allows for the free passage of water automatically in both directions without human intervention.
Under the NFIP, a minimum of 2 openings is required for enclosures or crawlspaces. The openings shall provide a total net area of not less
than 1 square inch for every square foot of area enclosed, excluding any bars, louvers, or other covers of the opening. Alternatively, an
Individual Engineered Flood Openings Certification or an Evaluation Report issued by the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC
ES) must be submitted to document that the design of the openings will allow for the automatic equalization of hydrostatic flood forces on
exterior walls. A window, a door, or a garage door is not considered an opening; openings may be installed in doors. Openings shall be on at
least 2 sides of the enclosed area. If a building has more than 1 enclosed area, each area must have openings to allow floodwater to directly
enter. The bottom of the openings must be no higher than 1.0 foot above the higher of the exterior or interior grade or floor immediately below
the opening. For more guidance on openings, see NFIP Technical Bulletin 1.

NFIP Elevation Certificate Instructions – Page 8

DIAGRAM 7

DIAGRAM 8

All buildings elevated on full-story foundation walls with
a partially or fully enclosed area below the elevated floor.
This includes walkout levels, where at least 1 side is at
or above grade. The principal use of this building is located
in the elevated floors of the building.

All buildings elevated on a crawlspace with the floor of the
crawlspace at or above grade on at least 1 side, with or
without an attached garage.

Distinguishing Feature – For all zones, the area below the
elevated floor is enclosed, either partially or fully. In A Zones, the
partially or fully enclosed area below the elevated floor is with or
without openings** present in the walls of the enclosure. Indicate
information about enclosure size and openings in Section A –
Property Information.

Distinguishing Feature – For all zones, the area below the first
floor is enclosed by solid or partial perimeter walls. In all A zones,
the crawlspace is with or without openings** present in the walls
of the crawlspace. Indicate information about crawlspace size
and openings in Section A – Property Information.

C2.a

NEXT HIGHER
FLOOR

A8.b–c

C2.b

GRADE

GRADE

C2.f

C2.a

C2.b

C2.f

C2.g

WALKOUT LEVEL
(ENCLOSURE)

NEXT HIGHER
FLOOR

C2.g
CRAWLSPACE

A8.b–c

A8.a
OPENINGS**

A8.b–c

OPENING**

OPENINGS**

A8.a

DIAGRAM 9
All buildings (other than split-level) elevated on a sub-grade
crawlspace, with or without attached garage.
Distinguishing Feature – The bottom (crawlspace) floor is below
ground level (grade) on all sides.* (If the distance from the
crawlspace floor to the top of the next higher floor is more than 5
feet, or the crawlspace floor is more than 2 feet below the grade
[LAG] on all sides, use Diagram 2.)

C2.a
GRADE

C2.b
NEXT HIGHER
FLOOR

C2.f

C2.g

SUBGRADE CRAWLSPACE

A8.b-c

A8.a
OPENINGS*

*A
 floor that is below ground level (grade) on all sides is considered a basement even if the floor is used for living purposes, or as an office,
garage, workshop, etc.
** A
 n “opening” is a permanent opening that allows for the free passage of water automatically in both directions without human intervention.
Under the NFIP, a minimum of 2 openings is required for enclosures or crawlspaces. The openings shall provide a total net area of not less
than 1 square inch for every square foot of area enclosed, excluding any bars, louvers, or other covers of the opening. Alternatively, an
Individual Engineered Flood Openings Certification or an Evaluation Report issued by the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC
ES) must be submitted to document that the design of the openings will allow for the automatic equalization of hydrostatic flood forces on
exterior walls. A window, a door, or a garage door is not considered an opening; openings may be installed in doors. Openings shall be on at
least 2 sides of the enclosed area. If a building has more than 1 enclosed area, each area must have openings to allow floodwater to directly
enter. The bottom of the openings must be no higher than 1.0 foot above the higher of the exterior or interior grade or floor immediately below
the opening. For more guidance on openings, see NFIP Technical Bulletin 1.

NFIP Elevation Certificate Instructions – Page 9