An elevation certificate in Hennepin County costs $300 to $600 for most residential properties. The certificate is required for National Flood Insurance Program coverage on properties in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas, and it can also support a Letter of Map Amendment application to remove a property from a mapped flood zone.
Flood Zones in Hennepin County
Hennepin County has significant floodplain areas concentrated along its creek and river corridors:
- Minnehaha Creek - flows through Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Edina before reaching the Mississippi River. Properties along its banks in lower-lying areas carry FEMA Zone A or Zone AE designations.
- Bassett Creek - cuts through Minneapolis, Golden Valley, and Crystal. The creek has a history of flooding and has been partially tunneled under Minneapolis to manage flow. Nearby properties may be in mapped flood zones.
- Nine Mile Creek - runs through Eden Prairie, Bloomington, and Edina. Its lower sections near the Minnesota River have mapped floodplain areas.
- Minnesota River corridor - the southern edge of Eden Prairie and Bloomington lies along the Minnesota River, which has extensive mapped floodplains. Properties in this area are frequently in Zone AE.
When You Need an Elevation Certificate in Hennepin County
- Your property is in a FEMA Zone A or Zone AE area and you are purchasing National Flood Insurance Program coverage
- You want to apply for a Letter of Map Amendment to remove your property from the flood zone map
- Your mortgage lender requires flood insurance documentation
- You are building or substantially improving a structure in a mapped floodplain in Bloomington, Eden Prairie, or along any Hennepin County creek corridor
How an Elevation Certificate Can Save Money
If your home's lowest floor elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation shown on the FEMA map, an elevation certificate documents that fact and can reduce your flood insurance premium substantially. Many Hennepin County homeowners who were mapped into flood zones when neighborhoods were first platted have found their actual elevations put them well above the base flood elevation, qualifying them for much lower premiums or a full map amendment.
Finding a Surveyor for Elevation Certificates
An elevation certificate must be prepared and signed by a licensed Professional Land Surveyor. In Hennepin County, experienced surveyors know the local benchmark network and FEMA flood map panels covering Minneapolis and the suburbs. Find licensed surveyors in our Hennepin County directory.