An elevation certificate documents the elevation of a building relative to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) shown on FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Map. In Colorado, this document is required for flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) if your property is in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area. It also affects your insurance premium directly: a building one foot below the BFE can cost thousands of dollars more per year in NFIP premiums than the same building one foot above.
Colorado’s Flood Zones and Why They Matter
Colorado is not commonly thought of as a flood state, but it has significant flood risk in multiple regions. The September 2013 Front Range floods were among the costliest in Colorado history, causing catastrophic damage along Boulder Creek, the Big Thompson River, the Cache la Poudre River, the South Platte River, and dozens of smaller streams. FEMA extensively revised its Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Boulder, Larimer, Weld, Jefferson, and several other Colorado counties following those floods. If your property is near any of these waterways and you have not checked your current flood zone designation, it is worth verifying.
Major Colorado Flood Zones
- South Platte River corridor: Runs through Denver, Commerce City, Brighton, and Weld County. Significant Zone AE floodplain.
- Cherry Creek: Affects properties in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood and portions of Arapahoe County south toward Centennial and Greenwood Village.
- Boulder Creek and Left Hand Creek: Major flood risk in Boulder County following the 2013 floods. Jamestown, Lyons, and Boulder itself have extensive FEMA flood zone coverage.
- Big Thompson River: Catastrophic floods in 1976 and 2013 reshaped FEMA maps for the canyon corridor between Loveland and Estes Park in Larimer County.
- Cache la Poudre River: Runs through Fort Collins; flood zones along the river corridor were updated after 2013.
- Arkansas River: Runs through Pueblo and El Paso County; Fountain Creek confluence near Pueblo is a historically active flood zone.
- Animas River: Runs through Durango in La Plata County; flood zone mapped along the river corridor.
- Fountain Creek: Runs through Colorado Springs, Fountain, and Security-Widefield in El Paso County; documented flood history.
How an Elevation Certificate Works
A licensed Professional Land Surveyor visits the property and makes precise measurements using GPS or optical survey equipment referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). The surveyor records the elevation of the lowest floor of the structure, the lowest adjacent grade next to the foundation, and any attached garage slab if present. These values are entered onto FEMA Form 086-0-33 along with information about the property’s flood zone designation from the current FIRM panel number.
The completed certificate is submitted to your flood insurance provider. Your insurer uses the difference between your lowest floor elevation and the BFE to calculate your annual premium. A building two feet above the BFE pays significantly lower premiums than a building at or below the BFE.
2026 Elevation Certificate Costs in Colorado
Costs vary by location and terrain.
| Region | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Denver metro and suburban Front Range | $450 to $750 |
| Colorado Springs and El Paso County | $450 to $750 |
| Fort Collins, Loveland (Larimer County) | $475 to $800 |
| Boulder County | $500 to $900 |
| Pueblo County | $400 to $700 |
| La Plata County (Durango area) | $550 to $950 |
| Mountain counties (general) | $550 to $950+ |
| Eastern plains counties | $400 to $700 |
When You Need an Elevation Certificate
You need an elevation certificate when:
- Your property is in a FEMA Zone AE, Zone AO, Zone A, or other Special Flood Hazard Area designation and you are applying for or renewing NFIP flood insurance
- A lender requires documentation of flood zone status as part of mortgage underwriting
- You are applying for a building permit in a floodplain and the county requires an elevation certificate
- You want to appeal your flood zone designation through a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA); in this case, the certificate supports your argument that your structure is above the BFE
- You are buying a property in a flood zone and want to understand the insurance implications before closing
How to Use an Elevation Certificate to Lower Your Insurance Cost
If your elevation certificate shows that your lowest floor is above the BFE, you may qualify for lower NFIP premiums than the FEMA default rate for your flood zone. Present the certificate to your insurance agent when applying for or renewing your NFIP policy. If the certificate shows you are above the BFE, you can also file a LOMA to request that FEMA formally remove your property from the Special Flood Hazard Area designation, which can eliminate the federal flood insurance requirement entirely.
Finding a Surveyor for Your Elevation Certificate
Only a licensed Professional Land Surveyor can complete a FEMA-accepted elevation certificate in Colorado. To find an elevation certificate surveyor in Colorado, browse our directory by county. Every surveyor listed is sourced from state licensing records maintained by the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors.