Send a completed Elevation Certificate to the party handling the reason it was requested. For permit or floodplain compliance, send it to the local community office; for flood insurance, send it to your insurance agent or company; and for a FEMA map change, attach it to the complete LOMA or LOMR-F application instead of sending the certificate to FEMA by itself. If a lender or servicer requested it, follow that party’s delivery instructions.
The FEMA Elevation Certificate form and instructions direct copies of all pages and attachments to the community official, insurance agent or company, and building owner. That normal distribution is separate from applying to FEMA for a map change.
Send it according to why it was requested
The requester and the purpose determine the destination. Use the table below before uploading, emailing, or mailing the document.
| Where to send an Elevation Certificate |
|---|
| Local permit or floodplain compliance Send it to the city or county floodplain administrator, building department, permitting office, or other community official named in the request. Keep the full signed certificate, every attachment, the permit or case number, and proof of delivery. |
| Flood insurance Send it to the insurance agent or company handling the policy. Keep the complete PDF or copy, the policy or quote reference, and the submission confirmation. |
| FEMA map change Include it, when required, in the complete Online LOMC or paper application package. Keep the application receipt, FEMA case number, and a complete copy of everything submitted. |
| Lender or servicer request Send it to the contact or portal specified by the requesting party. Keep the exact file sent, the recipient’s instructions, and delivery confirmation. |
For permits, send the certificate to the local office
Permit and floodplain-compliance reviews are handled by the community, not by FEMA’s national map office. FloodSmart’s Elevation Certificate guidance recommends contacting the local floodplain manager, who is often located in a city or county building, permitting, engineering, or land-use office.
Ask the office for its current delivery method and whether it needs a permit number, parcel number, property photographs, or another local form with the certificate. Send every page and attachment, then keep the owner’s copy and the receipt or email showing when it was delivered.
For flood insurance, send it to the agent or insurer
Send the certificate to the agent or insurance company handling the quote or policy. NFIP guidance for insurance agents explains how Elevation Certificate information may be used in policy writing and rating review, but submitting one does not guarantee a lower premium.
Before sending, ask whether the agent wants a PDF, a portal upload, or another format and whether the policy or quote number must appear in the message. Keep the exact file and the delivery confirmation so the agent can identify the version used.
For a FEMA map change, submit it with the full application
Do not mail or upload an Elevation Certificate to FEMA as a stand-alone map-change request. Use FEMA’s Online LOMC or the applicable FEMA paper LOMC forms, follow the application checklist, and include the certificate when the selected LOMA or LOMR-F process requires it.
The certificate records elevation and building information; it does not itself revise the flood map. A separate FEMA determination completes that process. If a determination may already exist, use the FEMA LOMA and LOMR-F lookup guide to find and read the official record.
How to find an existing Elevation Certificate
Before paying for a new survey, ask the local floodplain manager whether the community already has a certificate on file. Check the city or county building, permit, engineering, or land-record portal when one is available, but confirm that the document matches the exact property and is the latest complete version.
- Give the full street address and parcel or assessor number.
- Include the owner or building name and any permit or inspection number you know.
- Ask for all pages, photographs, continuation sheets, and attachments, not only the signed page.
- Compare the map and zone information with the current address result using the FEMA flood map check by address.
If no certificate is on file, ask the local official, insurer, or lender whether a new one is actually required before hiring a qualified professional authorized under state law.
Check the certificate before you send it
- Confirm the property address, legal description, and building identification match the request.
- Include every page and any required continuation sheets, photographs, maps, or attachments.
- Check that the sections needed for the permit, policy, or application are complete.
- Confirm the certifier’s name, signature, date, license information, and seal are present where required.
- Use a readable file and add the permit, policy, loan, or application reference requested by the recipient.
- Keep the owner’s copy and a record of the email, portal receipt, or mailing confirmation.
The official FEMA form is the final reference for the certificate’s pages, sections, and distribution instructions. A local office or requesting party may add its own delivery requirements.
What an Elevation Certificate does not do
An Elevation Certificate documents building elevations and related flood-map information. By itself, it does not amend a FEMA map, approve a local permit, cancel a lender’s flood-insurance requirement, or guarantee an insurance premium reduction. Those decisions come from separate official reviews.
A certificate is also not automatically required in every insurance, lending, or property transaction. Ask the party requesting it what decision the document will support and which version or sections it needs.
Use the matching FEMA record with the certificate
- Use the FEMA flood map check by address to confirm the currently displayed flood-zone result.
- Use the FEMA FIRM panel guide to verify the effective panel number and map date.
- Use the LOMA and LOMR-F lookup guide when you need the final FEMA map-change determination.
Questions people ask before submitting
Do I send my Elevation Certificate directly to FEMA?
Usually, no. Send it to the local office, insurer, lender, or other party that requested it. Send it to FEMA only as supporting material in the applicable complete LOMA or LOMR-F application.
Who should receive copies of the certificate?
FEMA’s form instructions direct copies of all pages and attachments to the community official, insurance agent or company, and building owner. A lender, servicer, or map-change application may require an additional copy.
Can I look up an existing Elevation Certificate online?
Some communities publish permit or property records online, but there is no single national address search for every certificate. Start with the local floodplain manager and ask for the complete document tied to the exact address or parcel.
Does the recipient need the original paper form?
The FEMA distribution instructions refer to copies, but the recipient controls the accepted delivery format. Ask whether a readable PDF is enough or whether the permit, lender, insurer, or application process requires another format.
Will sending a certificate lower my flood-insurance premium?
Not necessarily. The agent or insurer may use the information for a rating review, but the result depends on the policy and current rating rules. Do not order or submit a certificate on the assumption that savings are guaranteed.
Last checked July 27, 2026. Delivery requirements can vary by community, insurer, lender, and FEMA application type. Follow the current instructions from the party handling your case.