An elevation certificate might be useful in a few ways. If you do not believe your home needs flood insurance, an elevation certificate could help back up your claim.

Although the primary purpose of elevation certificates is to ensure compliance with community floodplain regulations, they may also be used to help determine — and even re-evaluate — flood risk.

An elevation certificate provides details about the height of a building’s lowest floor in relation to the base flood elevation (BFE), the level at which there is a 1% annual chance of flooding ...

You may also need a new elevation certificate if you allow your flood insurance policy to lapse for 90 to 180 days. At this point, you may not be eligible for a previously discounted rate.

A flood elevation certificate shows your home's elevation relative to potential floodwaters. It’s used to assess your flood risk and set your flood insurance rates.

A certificate might help you avoid excessive increases in your flood insurance premiums. 6. The National Flood Insurance Program is “under water” to the tune of about $23 billion.