The Flood Zone Statement and Authorization form is a legal document used during real estate transactions. It serves to confirm the flood zone status of a property and outlines the responsibilities of both sellers and buyers regarding flood insurance. Unlike other property disclosure forms, this specific document focuses solely on flood zone identification and insurance obligations, helping protect buyers from future liabilities related to flood risks.
This form is typically used when selling or purchasing real estate in areas at risk of flooding. It is particularly important when sales involve properties in identified flood zones, as it ensures that buyers are aware of potential flood-related issues and insurance requirements. This helps both parties maintain transparency and protects buyers from unforeseen expenses related to flood damage.
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If this form requires notarization, complete it online through a secure video call—no need to meet a notary in person or wait for an appointment.

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If you live in a high-risk area for flooding and are purchasing flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), you will almost certainly be required to provide an elevation certificate to complete your purchase.
Summary: Proximity to a flood zone lowers property values. By law, a property is considered in a flood zone if any part of the structure falls within a floodplain, an area that is adjacent to a stream or river that experiences periodic flooding.
Your local floodplain manager: Your local floodplain manager may already have a certificate on file. The seller of your property: If you're buying a property, the sellers may already have the certificate, and you can ask them for it before purchasing.
Areas in flood zone A have a 1 percent chance of flooding per year and a 25 percent chance of flooding at least once during a 30-year mortgage. Since there haven't been detailed hydraulic analysis in these areas, the base flood elevation and depths have not been determined.
The BFE is the elevation that floodwaters are estimated to have a 1% chance of reaching or exceeding in any given year. The higher your lowest floor is above the BFE, the lower the risk of flooding. Lower risk typically means lower flood insurance premiums.
An elevation certificate is a document that lists a building's location, lowest point of elevation, flood zone and other characteristics, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It is used to enforce local building ordinances and to help determine flood insurance rates.
An Elevation Certificate is not the same thing as a land survey. It can be completed by your state-licensed surveyor when you hire them to conduct a new land survey. Architects and engineers are also able to issue an elevation certificate. There may also be a copy of an EC on file with your community or municipality.
How long does it take to get an elevation certificate? The amount of time varies with each surveyor. If you work with a licensed surveyor, and he or she is able to fit you in and knows your area well, you should expect a completed elevation certificate within five business days.
Zone A. Zone A is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to the I-percent annual chance floodplains that are determined in the Flood Insurance Study by approximate methods of analysis.