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Elevation Certificate

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ELEVATION CERTIFICATE AND SURVEY AGREEMENT

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Client Name: (the "Client") owns or controls the real property described below and desires a professional elevation certificate and related surveying services; and

WHEREAS, Surveyor/Engineer Name: (the "Surveyor") is duly licensed and qualified to perform land surveying and vertical control work and will prepare an Elevation Certificate in accordance with the Scope of Work set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

SCOPE OF WORK

PAYMENT TERMS

Total Fee:    Payment Schedule:

Late Payment: In the event Client fails to pay any undisputed invoice within days after invoice date, Client shall pay interest on the overdue amount at a rate of % per month or the maximum allowed by law, together with all collection costs and attorneys' fees.

TERM AND TERMINATION

Term Commencement Date: .    Term Expiration Date: .

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party if the breaching party fails to cure the breach within days of written notice. Termination shall not relieve Client of payment obligations for services performed prior to termination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party shall hold in confidence all non-public information and documents obtained from the other party in connection with this Agreement and shall not disclose such information to third parties except as required by law or with the prior written consent of the disclosing party. This obligation survives termination of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years.

ELEVATION CERTIFICATE DATA

Parcel/Tax ID:    Year Built:

Flood Zone:    Community/County:

BUILDING ELEVATIONS & CHARACTERISTICS

Lowest Floor Elevation (including basement):    Top of Bottom Floor Elevation (if applicable):

Lowest Adjacent Grade (LAG):    Highest Adjacent Grade (HAG):

Building Diagram (select one or more):

Is building elevated on foundation (pilings/columns):

SURVEYOR CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the elevations and information contained in this Elevation Certificate and Survey Agreement are true and correct to the best of my knowledge; that the vertical control and measurement procedures used conform to accepted professional surveying practices; and that the elevations shown are referenced to the vertical datum stated above.

Surveyor/Engineer Name:

GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to its choice-of-law rules.

Entire Agreement: This document, including exhibits and attachments incorporated by reference, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations, and discussions, whether oral or written. Any amendment must be in writing and signed by both parties.

ATTACHMENTS

The following attachments are part of this Agreement and Elevation Certificate: site plan, vertical control notes, building diagram(s), and photographic documentation. Attachments provided:

Client Name:

By:

Date:

Surveyor/Engineer Name:

By:

Date:

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What an Elevation Certificate Is and when it’s used

An Elevation Certificate documents a building’s elevation relative to the official vertical datum and records site and structure details that affect flood risk. The form is most commonly used to determine National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) premiums, verify compliance with local floodplain ordinances, and support permit reviews. It is completed by a licensed land surveyor, engineer, or architect who certifies measured elevations, building diagrams, and other data. Agencies, insurers, lenders, and property owners rely on the certificate to set insurance rates, confirm base flood elevation relationships, and document mitigation measures.

Why an accurate Elevation Certificate matters

A correct Elevation Certificate ensures proper flood insurance rating, demonstrates compliance with local floodplain management, and can lower premiums when accurate elevations show reduced risk.

Why an accurate Elevation Certificate matters

Who typically prepares and uses an Elevation Certificate

Key stakeholders include licensed professionals, property owners, insurers, lenders, and local permitting officials who need reliable elevation data.

  • Licensed surveyors and engineers who measure elevations and complete the certification form for accuracy and legal compliance.
  • Property owners and real estate agents who supply the certificate to insurers, lenders, and buyers during transactions.
  • Insurance underwriters, mortgage lenders, and local floodplain managers who rely on the certificate to set rates and verify permit conditions.

Use the certificate whenever you need an authoritative elevation for insurance rating, permit approval, or regulatory recordkeeping.

Core components to include on a professional Elevation Certificate

A properly completed Elevation Certificate contains site identifiers, building diagrams, measured elevations, certification language, and supporting attachments. Each component supports the certificate’s purpose for insurance and regulatory decision making.

Property Information

Owner name, address, legal description, and parcel or lot identifiers used to associate the certificate with the correct property record.

Building Diagram

A scaled diagram showing building footprint, lowest adjacent grade, lowest floor, openings, and survey control features for visual verification.

Measured Elevations

Surveyed elevations for benchmarks, lowest adjacent grade, top of lowest floor, and other referenced points tied to the stated datum.

Datum and Benchmark

Declare the vertical datum used (e.g., NAVD88) and identify benchmark or temporary benchmark used for elevation control.

Certifier Information

Name, license number, signature, and date from the licensed surveyor, engineer, or architect certifying the measurements.

Attachments

Supporting materials such as survey notes, site photographs, sketches, and a map showing the building’s location and flood zone designation.

Essential data fields to capture

Owner name: Full legal name
Property address: Street, city, state, ZIP
Coordinates: Lat/long or parcel ID
Building type: Residential or commercial
Elevation values: Lowest floor and grade
Certifier signature: License and date

Step-by-step: preparing and submitting an Elevation Certificate

Follow these sequential steps to obtain a valid Elevation Certificate from measurement through submission to insurers or authorities.

  • 01
    Engage a professional: Hire a licensed surveyor or engineer to perform the field survey.
  • 02
    Collect site data: Survey benchmarks, lowest adjacent grade, floor elevations, and take photos.
  • 03
    Complete the form: Certifier fills the Elevation Certificate with measured elevations and signatures.
  • 04
    Deliver copies: Provide signed copies to insurer, lender, and local floodplain administrator.

How to set up an online workflow for the Elevation Certificate

Configure a digital workflow that preserves measurement integrity, captures signatures, and keeps a verifiable audit trail for insurers and regulators.

Field Online setting
Upload PDF Use the original FEMA PDF or an agency-approved template
Field placement Add name, date, and certifier fields as required
Signer authentication Choose email or stronger MFA for certifier
Retention settings Export signed PDF/A and store an audit log

Where to send the signed Elevation Certificate

After signing, distribute certified copies to the parties who require them and retain a permanent record for compliance and claims support.

  • Insurance company: Submit to your flood insurer to set or adjust premiums
  • Mortgage lender: Provide to lender if required for escrow or loan conditions
  • Local floodplain office: File with the municipal floodplain administrator when requested
  • Owner records: Keep an original signed copy for the property file

Technical considerations for eSubmission and storage

Ensure file format, signature method, and integrations meet insurer and local agency requirements.

  • File formats: PDF, PDF/A supported for long-term records
  • Authentication: Email link, SMS code, or stronger MFA
  • Integrations: Connect to Drive, Box, or local records systems

Use an eSignature platform that preserves an audit trail, stores a tamper-evident PDF, and integrates with your document repository to simplify distribution and long-term access.

Typical timing and processing expectations

While no universal federal submission deadline exists for an Elevation Certificate, timeframes matter for permits, insurance updates, and transactions.

Pre-construction permit review:

Provide certificate during permit application to confirm required elevations

Insurance rating:

Submit before policy effective date to ensure correct premium

Real estate closing:

Obtain certificate early to satisfy lender or buyer requirements

NFIP map appeals:

Use certified elevations when challenging mapped flood zones

Record retention:

Keep originals until regulatory or claim needs are satisfied

Key milestones from survey to submission

Track these core milestones to manage schedule risk and meet stakeholder needs for insurance and permitting.

01

Schedule survey

Book the licensed surveyor and agree on access and scope

02

Field measurement

Surveyor records elevations, benchmarks, and site photos

03

Form completion

Certifier completes and signs the Elevation Certificate

04

Distribution

Send certified copies to insurer, lender, and local office

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

  • Using the wrong vertical datum or failing to note the datum on the certificate can misstate flood risk and cause rating errors.
  • Omitting photographs, sketches, or benchmark references reduces the certificate’s evidentiary value for insurers or appeals.
  • Entering incomplete or abbreviated addresses or parcel IDs may lead to misfiled records or rejected submissions.
  • Allowing unsigned or undated certifier blocks invalidates the certificate for underwriting and regulatory use.

Consequences of incorrect or incomplete Elevation Certificates

Higher premiums: Insurance rating may be increased
Claim denial: Coverage disputes can arise
Permit delays: Local approvals may be withheld
Lender issues: Loan conditions may not be met
Regulatory noncompliance: Possible enforcement actions
Record ambiguity: Complicates future property transfers

Practical scenarios where an Elevation Certificate made a difference

Two concise use cases illustrate common outcomes when the certificate is prepared accurately and shared promptly.

Flood Insurance Rating

A homeowner obtained a certified lowest floor elevation that showed the home above base flood elevation

  • Insurer recalculated premiums based on the new elevation
  • The accurate certificate reduced the policy premium and simplified lender documentation during closing.

Permit Approval

A contractor submitted an Elevation Certificate with a permit application to confirm finished floor elevation

  • Building department verified compliance with local ordinance
  • The certificate cleared the permit condition quickly and avoided a construction delay.

Frequently asked questions about the Elevation Certificate

Answers to common questions about who can sign, electronic submissions, corrections, retention, and typical processing issues.


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eSignature platform pricing and feature comparison for elevation certificate workflows

Common pricing and feature criteria for eSignature platforms used to sign and store Elevation Certificates. signNow appears first for reference.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial Yes, 7-day trial No No Yes, limited Yes, limited
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
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