Elevation Certificates in Dane County
An elevation certificate documents your building's elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation on FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Lenders require them for federally backed mortgages on properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas. In Dane County, the areas most likely to trigger this requirement are properties adjacent to the Yahara River system, the Madison chain of lakes, and flood-prone corridors in the county's rural areas.
Dane County Flood Risk Areas
Dane County's most significant flood exposure runs along the Yahara River and the four connected lakes it links: Mendota in the north, Monona and Waubesa in the center, and Kegonsa in the south. Spring flooding on this system periodically affects shoreline properties in Madison, Monona, McFarland, and Stoughton. The Sugar River and its tributaries in the southwestern part of the county carry flood risk for rural properties in the towns of Montrose, Exeter, and Brooklyn.
FEMA designates Special Flood Hazard Areas in Dane County through its Flood Insurance Rate Maps. If your property sits in a Zone AE or AO designation, your mortgage lender will likely require an elevation certificate before closing.
What an Elevation Certificate Covers
A licensed surveyor visits the property and records the elevation of the lowest floor, lowest adjacent grade, and other required measurements using the official FEMA elevation certificate form. The completed certificate shows whether your building sits above or below the Base Flood Elevation, which directly affects how your flood insurance is priced. Buildings that sit well above the BFE typically qualify for lower premiums.
Can an Elevation Certificate Reduce My Insurance Premium?
Yes. If your building is elevated above the Base Flood Elevation, documenting that with an elevation certificate can significantly reduce your National Flood Insurance Program premium. Many Dane County property owners near the lakes and rivers find that the cost of the certificate is recovered within the first or second year of lower insurance payments.
Find licensed surveyors who handle elevation certificates in Madison, Monona, Stoughton, and throughout Dane County through our Dane County land surveyor directory.