LOMRs and Elevation Certificates: Understanding Your Property’s Flood Risk—and How AJC Can Help

If your property is located in or near a mapped floodplain, you may have encountered terms such as Elevation Certificate, LOMR, LOMA, or LOMR-F. These FEMA-related documents can affect everything from development and permitting to flood insurance requirements and property transactions.

The process can also become complicated quickly. Accurate surveying, elevation data, mapping, and—depending on the project—engineering analysis are often critical to obtaining the information FEMA and local floodplain officials need.

That’s where Abbie Jones Consulting (AJC) can help.

What Is an Elevation Certificate?

A FEMA Elevation Certificate (EC) documents important elevation information about a building and the surrounding property. It is one of the primary tools used by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to document floodplain information.

An Elevation Certificate may be used to:

• Document a structure’s elevation in relation to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE)

• Assist local officials with floodplain-management requirements

• Provide information used for flood insurance purposes

• Support certain FEMA map-change applications

• Provide valuable documentation during property development, permitting, financing, or sale

FEMA identifies the Elevation Certificate as an important administrative tool for documenting compliance with local floodplain regulations and providing elevation information for insurance and certain map-change requests.

Completing an Elevation Certificate is more involved than simply determining the elevation of a house. Depending on the property and flood zone, a survey professional may need to identify items such as the building configuration, lowest floor elevation, lowest adjacent grade, highest adjacent grade, and other site-specific elevation information.

Accurate field surveying is essential.

What Is a LOMR?

A Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) is an official FEMA determination that revises information shown on an effective Flood Insurance Rate Map, commonly called a FIRM.

A LOMR may be appropriate when better technical information becomes available or when physical changes affect flood elevations, floodway boundaries, or other mapped flood-hazard information. FEMA classifies LOMRs as one type of Letter of Map Change (LOMC) used to officially amend or revise effective flood mapping.

LOMR applications can be considerably more technical than an Elevation Certificate and may require surveying, engineering calculations, hydraulic or hydrologic information, mapping, supporting documentation, and coordination with FEMA and the local community.

What About LOMA and LOMR-F?

These terms sound similar, but they serve different purposes.

A Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) may be used when a structure or property was mapped within a Special Flood Hazard Area but available elevation information demonstrates that it is actually located on naturally high ground.

A Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F) may apply when fill has been placed to raise the property or structure above the applicable flood elevation.

FEMA explains that LOMAs and LOMR-Fs can officially amend the effective flood map and, when FEMA's requirements are satisfied, establish that a property or structure is outside the Special Flood Hazard Area.

An Elevation Certificate or other certified survey information may provide part of the elevation data needed to support these applications.

It is important to remember, however, that an Elevation Certificate by itself does not change FEMA's flood map designation. FEMA must approve the appropriate map-change request before the effective designation is changed. Additionally, a lender may still require flood insurance even after FEMA issues a map amendment or revision.

Why Accurate Surveying Matters

Floodplain work can come down to relatively small differences in elevation.

An inaccurate benchmark, incorrect building elevation, incomplete site information, or improperly documented datum can create delays, additional costs, or questions during FEMA or local review.

Professional surveying establishes reliable horizontal and vertical information that can be used to evaluate the property against FEMA mapping and Base Flood Elevation data.

For some projects, surveying is only the beginning. More complex floodplain changes may also require engineering analysis to determine how a development, grading change, drainage improvement, channel modification, or other project affects existing flood conditions.

Having surveyors and engineers working together can make that process significantly more efficient.

How AJC Can Help

Abbie Jones Consulting provides professional surveying and civil engineering services to help property owners, developers, architects, contractors, and other project teams navigate floodplain-related requirements.

Depending on the project, AJC can assist with:

• FEMA Elevation Certificates

• Topographic and elevation surveys

• Boundary and site surveying

• Base Flood Elevation and flood-map research

• LOMA and LOMR-F supporting survey information

• LOMR and other FEMA map-revision support

• Site development and grading information

• Civil engineering evaluations

• Coordination with local floodplain administrators and reviewing agencies

• Preparation of maps, exhibits, and supporting technical documentation

One of the biggest advantages of working with AJC is having surveying and engineering expertise available within the same team. When a project begins with field survey information but develops into a more complex engineering or regulatory issue, our team can help keep the process moving without unnecessary handoffs.

Not Sure What You Need? Start With the Property.

You don't need to determine whether you need an Elevation Certificate, LOMA, LOMR-F, or LOMR before contacting us.

Send us the property address, parcel information, and a brief description of what you're trying to accomplish. AJC can review the available information and help identify the appropriate next step.

Whether you're dealing with a flood insurance question, planning a new development, preparing for a property transaction, or trying to determine whether FEMA's mapping accurately reflects conditions on your property, good decisions begin with good data.

Abbie Jones Consulting can help you establish that data—and help guide you through what comes next.

Need assistance with an Elevation Certificate or FEMA flood-map issue? Contact Abbie Jones Consulting to discuss your property or project.