By Ivan Mora · Florida-licensed real estate agent, License #3454593 · Updated November 12, 2026
An elevation certificate is a FEMA form completed by a licensed surveyor or engineer that records a building's elevation relative to the base flood elevation and its flood zone. For a Hollywood waterfront home it can help an insurance agent quote flood coverage and show whether the building sits above or below expected flood levels. Ask the seller for an existing certificate, check the flood zone on FEMA's map, and get a flood insurance quote before your inspection period ends.
What's on an elevation certificate
- Flood zone and base flood elevation from the FEMA map.
- Elevation of the lowest floor, garage and machinery like AC units.
- Building diagram type.
- Surveyor's certification and date.
Learn more on FEMA's elevation certificate page.
How it affects flood insurance
Under NFIP Risk Rating 2.0, an elevation certificate is no longer required to purchase coverage, but it may help establish a more favorable rate and remains relevant to floodplain-management requirements. Ask the agent to compare the actual rating with available elevation evidence. Private carriers may use different documentation. No premium or approval outcome is assumed.
Where to find one
- Ask the seller for the existing certificate.
- Ask the City of Hollywood floodplain office whether one is on file.
- Order a new one from a licensed surveyor if none exists or the building changed.
Waterfront and worried about flood?
I'll help you get the elevation certificate before you commit.
Send me the address and I'll help you request the certificate and line up insurance quotes. Call or text 8am–6pm, 7 days a week.
Checking the flood zone
Search the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. Lenders require flood insurance in high-risk zones, but homes outside them can still flood. Ask the seller about any flood claims and FEMA assistance on the property.
Elevation evidence under current flood rating
NFIP Risk Rating 2.0 guidance says an elevation certificate is no longer required to purchase coverage, but an owner may submit one to test whether it improves the rate. The certificate remains useful for floodplain-management requirements. No premium reduction is guaranteed. FEMA coastal mapping guidance distinguishes AE and VE coastal hazard areas; VE includes wave-related hazards. Check the exact map panel, effective date and applicable map changes, not a neighborhood-wide designation.
Sources and scope
- FEMA — Elevation Certificate — What the form contains
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — Flood zone lookup
- FloodSmart (NFIP) — Flood insurance consumer info
- NFIP Risk Rating 2.0 guidance — Elevation evidence under current flood rating; apply to the actual property with the relevant professional
- FEMA coastal mapping guidance — Elevation evidence under current flood rating; apply to the actual property with the relevant professional
Statutory text checked November 12, 2026. Educational guidance, not legal, engineering, lending or insurance advice. Building-specific deadlines, repairs, funding and coverage require current documents and qualified professional review. No association costs, inspection outcomes or insurance quotes are assumed.