An elevation certificate is a FEMA form completed by a licensed surveyor, engineer or architect. It records your home’s flood zone, the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) for your lot, and measured heights of key parts of your house: the top of the lowest floor, the lowest machinery like your A/C unit, and the ground around the home.
For a Slidell homeowner thinking about raising a house, it answers the two questions that drive everything else: how far below (or above) the flood elevation is my floor right now, and how high do I need to go?
Why you need one before raising your house
- It sets the target height. The engineer designs the new foundation from these numbers, plus any extra height the city or parish requires.
- It’s required for grants. FEMA mitigation programs like HMGP and FMA need elevation data to judge eligibility and cost-effectiveness. See our FEMA elevation grants guide.
- It drives flood insurance pricing. Agents use it to rate policies, and it’s how you show the savings after you raise.
- It’s needed for permits. Permit offices in St. Tammany Parish and its cities use elevation data to confirm the finished home meets floodplain rules.
The numbers that matter most
| On the certificate | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Flood zone (for example AE or VE) | How strict the rules are. VE zones near open water face wave action and stricter foundation rules. |
| Base Flood Elevation (BFE) | The height floodwater is expected to reach in a 1%-annual-chance flood. |
| Top of lowest floor | Where your living space sits today. If it’s below the BFE, you’re exposed. |
| Lowest adjacent grade | The ground level next to your house, which helps the engineer plan how high the lift is in real feet. |
| Machinery and equipment | Where your A/C, water heater and similar equipment sit. These need to go above flood level too. |
Example: if the BFE for your lot is 10 feet and your lowest floor is at 6 feet, your floor is 4 feet below the flood elevation. Your local minimum may require you to go above the BFE, so the raise could easily be 5 to 6 feet or more. That’s why the certificate comes first.
How to get one
- Check for an existing certificate. Look in your closing papers, ask your insurance agent, or call the permit office for your city or parish.
- Hire a licensed surveyor if you don’t have one, or if yours predates major changes to the house or the flood maps.
- Expect a site visit. The surveyor measures your home’s heights against a known benchmark and fills out the form.
- Share it with your contractor and agent. A good house raising contractor will ask for it on the first visit.
Prices vary by surveyor and lot, so call two or three local firms for quotes.
After the raise
When the work is finished, a new certificate based on the completed construction shows the new floor height. That final certificate is what you hand to your insurance agent to reprice your policy, and what grant programs and permit offices use to close out the project.
Ready to talk about raising your home? See house raising costs or request a free estimate. Bring your elevation certificate if you have one.
Common questions
Who can fill out an elevation certificate?
A licensed land surveyor, engineer or architect authorized by the state to certify elevation information. In practice most Louisiana homeowners hire a licensed surveyor.
Do I need a new elevation certificate after raising my house?
Yes. A new certificate based on the finished construction shows the new floor height. Your insurance agent uses it to rate your flood policy, and permit offices and grant programs use it to close out the project.
Where can I find out if my home already has an elevation certificate?
Check your closing documents, ask your flood insurance agent, or contact the permit office for your city or parish. Many communities keep certificates on file for permitted construction.
Is an elevation certificate the same as a flood zone determination?
No. A flood zone determination tells you which zone your property is in. An elevation certificate measures the actual height of your home against the flood elevation for that zone.