Does An Elevation Certificate Expire?

by | Mar 7, 2020 | Flood Zones

An Elevation Certificate, otherwise known as an EC doesn’t have an expiration date, but there are some factors that do play a role in determining if an Elevation Certificate is still “good”.

Has the FIRM been updated? The Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) are updated periodically. The updates frequently revise the location of the areas that are deemed to be at risk for flooding. If the map has been updated since the EC was performed, it is no longer up to date with the current map. A new EC would be required.

Who performed the work? Is the company, professional land surveyor, or engineer who performed the elevation certificate still in business? If not, the certificate may not be accepted by the insurance company. This requirement varies from company to company.

So while an Elevation Certificate doesn’t expire, it may become outdated and no longer accurately depict if a property is in, near or out of a flood zone. You can visit www.FEMA.gov for more information regarding FIRMs.

For more information about Elevation Certificates and to schedule a residential or commercial survey please contact Cardinal Surveying and Mapping at 636.922.1001 or email us at [email protected].