Elevation Certificates in Brown County
An elevation certificate documents your building's elevation relative to FEMA's Base Flood Elevation and is required by lenders for federally backed mortgages on properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas. In Brown County, the primary flood risk corridors involve the Fox River, which flows north through De Pere and Green Bay before entering the bay, and the bay shoreline itself.
Brown County Flood Risk Areas
The Fox River in Brown County runs through De Pere and the southern portions of Green Bay before widening into the bay. Low-lying properties along this corridor in De Pere and southern Green Bay carry FEMA SFHA designations, particularly in sections where the river's historic floodplain is broad. During high-water events in spring, these areas can experience significant inundation.
Properties along the western and southern shoreline of Green Bay (the bay) also face flood exposure from Great Lakes high water conditions. FEMA's flood maps for Brown County reflect both river and coastal flood sources, and properties near either should check their flood zone designation before assuming no flood insurance obligation.
What the Certificate Process Looks Like
A licensed surveyor measures the elevation of your building's lowest floor and other reference points, connects those measurements to an established benchmark, and completes the official FEMA elevation certificate form. In Brown County's urban areas, established benchmarks are plentiful, making this part of the process straightforward. Rural properties near the outer edges of the county may require more fieldwork to establish the elevation connection.
Reducing Flood Insurance Costs With a Certificate
If your Brown County building sits above the Base Flood Elevation, an elevation certificate documents that and may qualify you for a significantly lower National Flood Insurance Program premium. Given that NFIP premiums in SFHA zones can reach $1,500 or more per year, a $400 to $650 certificate investment often pays for itself quickly.
Find licensed surveyors who handle elevation certificates in Green Bay, De Pere, and throughout Brown County through our Brown County land surveyor directory.