ELEVATION CERTIFICATES

Elevation
Certificates

What is an Elevation Certificate?

Elevation Certificates are a valuable tool provided by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These certificates document a building’s First Floor Height (FFH) relative to the expected flood levels, playing a crucial role in floodplain management. Using Elevation Certificates, property owners can ensure compliance with local floodplain regulations and potentially lower their flood insurance costs. The NFIP uses these certificates to reduce the impact of flooding and aid disaster recovery efforts.

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Why Do I Need an Elevation Certificate?

Homeowners and property developers often require Elevation Certificates to accurately determine their property's risk of flood damage. These certificates are essential for anyone living in or developing property within a designated floodplain. By documenting the elevation compared to the floodplain, these certificates help property owners obtain or verify the accuracy of their flood insurance rates, ensuring they are fair and reflective of the actual risk. Furthermore, local building authorities may require these certificates to grant building permits or verify compliance with floodplain management ordinances designed to mitigate the risk of flooding. Obtaining an Elevation Certificate can also be a proactive measure for any property owner looking to effectively assess and manage potential flood risks.

Oklahoma Flood Plan

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) has been the coordinating state agency for the NFIP in Oklahoma for over 50 years. As the NFIP State Coordinator, the OWRB partners with other state and federal agencies and local governments to prevent and mitigate the catastrophic effects of flooding disasters in Oklahoma. The OWRB promotes community enrollment in the NFIP and advises more than 400 participating communities on steps to ensure future participation in the program. The Oklahoma Floodplain Management Act, passes in 1980, authorizes cities, towns, and counties to develop flood hazard areas. As of 2004, the OWRB also trains and accredits community floodplain administrators.

A few of OWRB's Floodplain Responsibilities include:

Interpreting NFIP requirements;
Assisting in the identification of Flood Hazard Areas;
Assisting with the preparation, adoption, and review of floodplain ordinances and regulations;
More information can be found here;

Oklahoma Community Flood Plan Management

You may need flood insurance if your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). An SFHA has a one percent chance or greater of flooding in any given year. FEMA has excellent resources for understanding SFHA map labels and their definitions. Whether you live in Edmond, Guthrie, or Oklahoma City limits or an unincorporated area of Oklahoma or Logan Counties, local governmental entities play a vital role in overseeing a community flood management plan. Elevation certificates are utilized at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure compliance with floodplain management ordinances. Communities may require an elevation certificate before or after construction.

Elevation certificates are also required when a property owner and/or community requests an update to an effective flood map or Flood Insurance Study (FIS). A map change request can be submitted to FEMA via a Letter of Map Change (LOMC) request. Once FEMA reviews the map change request, they will issue a determination document either approving or denying it via a LOMA or LOMR-F. Depending on your needs, you may be able to submit an ELOMA online.

Understanding the SFHA for your Property

FEMA has an excellent flood map service center that can provide you with details on the current designations in your area.

There are many instances where elevation certificates already exist for a property, and there is no need to complete a new one. Check with:

Your local floodplain manager. Every NFIP-participating community has a floodplain manager, which may also be called the local stormwater manager, environmental manager, or environmental office.
A property's former owner may have copies of an existing certificate.
A developer or builder may have been required to get an elevation certificate during construction.

Some local resources include:

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Understanding Flood Zone Designation and Elevation Certificate Terminology

FEMA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a broad list of responsibilities. One of which is managing the National Flood Insurance Program.
FFH - First Floor Height is the lowest enclosed area within the structure. This could also include a basement and is sometimes referred to as the "finished floor."
LOMA - A Letter of Map Amendment is a letter from FEMA stating that an existing structure or parcel of land — that is on naturally high ground and has not been elevated by fill — would not be inundated by the base flood.
LOMC - A Letter of Map Change is an application to FEMA for a formal determination of the property's location and/or elevation relative to the SFHA.
LOMR - A Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill is A letter from FEMA stating that an existing structure or parcel of land has been elevated by earthen fill and would not be inundated by the base flood.
NFIP - The National Flood Insurance Program is a public network of more than 50 insurance companies managed by FEMA. More information on this can be found at NFIP DIRECT.
SFHA - A Special Flood Hazard Area has a one percent or greater chance of flooding in a given year, sometimes referred to as the one-percent-annual-chance flood or base flood.