RETURN TO FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT HOME
A Flood Elevation Certificate is a document generated by an engineer, surveyor, or qualified person that will provide data to help properly rate properties for flood insurance. It can determine where precisely your home is located in relationship to the Base Flood Elevation. You may want to obtain a flood certificate if your property is in a flood zone, and you are considering disputing it.
Floodplain Management and Disaster Mitigation Services stores official records that show new buildings and substantial improvements in identified Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are properly elevated. This elevation information is used to show compliance with the City of Birmingham’s floodplain management ordinance. FEMA encourages communities to use the Elevation Certificate developed by FEMA to fulfill this requirement since it also can be used by the property owner to obtain flood insurance. Because of our participation in the Community Rating System (CRS) we are required to use the FEMA Elevation Certificate. Contact any licensed surveyor for information on obtaining an Elevation Certificate.
For more information on elevation certificates visit https://www.fema.gov/elevation-certificate
Or contact the Floodplain Management and Disaster Mitigation Services staff at 205-254-2479. Flood maps and flood protection references are available at the downtown Birmingham Public Library. You can also visit the Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits, Floodplain Management Section on the fifth floor of City Hall or call (205) 254-2479 to see if your property is in a mapped floodplain. If so, we can give you more information, such as depth, frequency, and historical flooding information.
Specific Elevation Certificates
Click a link to view an elevation certificate.