Elevation Certificates in Eau Claire 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 Eau Claire County, the primary flood risk corridors are the Chippewa River and the Eau Claire River, which meet near the heart of the city of Eau Claire.
Eau Claire County Flood Risk Areas
The Chippewa River is a major waterway that drains a large portion of northern Wisconsin before reaching Eau Claire County. Its floodplain in the Eau Claire area is significant, and properties along its banks carry FEMA SFHA designations in sections where the river's floodplain is broadly mapped. The Eau Claire River, which flows through the city before joining the Chippewa, adds additional flood zone coverage in lower-lying parts of the city.
Spring snowmelt events and heavy rainfall periodically push both rivers above flood stage, reinforcing FEMA's designations. If a lender flags your Eau Claire County property for a flood zone check during a mortgage or refinance transaction, an elevation certificate is the next step.
What the Certificate Process Involves
A licensed surveyor measures the elevation of your building's lowest floor and other required reference points, then completes the official FEMA elevation certificate form. In the city of Eau Claire, the established survey benchmark network makes the elevation connection straightforward. For rural properties or those farther from established benchmarks, the surveyor may need additional fieldwork to establish the connection.
Potential Insurance Savings
If your building is elevated above the Base Flood Elevation, an elevation certificate can document that and may qualify you for a lower National Flood Insurance Program premium. In cases where the annual premium would otherwise be $1,000 or more, the certificate investment is typically recovered within a year or two.
Find licensed surveyors who handle elevation certificates in Eau Claire, Altoona, and throughout Eau Claire County through our Eau Claire County land surveyor directory.