Which Plymouth County towns most commonly need elevation certificates?

Scituate, Marshfield, Duxbury, Kingston, Plymouth waterfront, and Green Harbor are the most commonly affected. Any property within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, including properties near barrier beaches and tidal rivers, may require a certificate for flood insurance or lending.

How much does an elevation certificate cost in Plymouth County?

Most elevation certificates in Plymouth County run $400 to $650. Coastal properties in Scituate and Marshfield with tidal boundary complications run toward the high end. Inland properties near rivers are typically $400 to $500.

Is Scituate one of the most flood-prone towns in Massachusetts?

Yes. Scituate has been designated one of the most repetitive-loss communities in FEMA’s flood program in New England. Nor’easters and coastal storms regularly flood the North Scituate Beach and Humarock areas. An elevation certificate here is not optional for any property in the SFHA.

What is Green Harbor in Marshfield and why is it high-risk?

Green Harbor is a barrier beach community in Marshfield with some of the lowest elevations on the South Shore. The area sits between the harbor and the ocean, and the main road has flooded repeatedly during major storms. Nearly all properties in Green Harbor are mapped in FEMA flood zones.

Elevation Certificate in Plymouth County, MA (2026)

Key takeaway

Elevation certificates in Plymouth County, MA cost $400-$650 in 2026. Scituate, Marshfield, Duxbury, and Plymouth waterfront face major flood risk.

Elevation Certificates on the South Shore: What Plymouth County Property Owners Need to Know

Plymouth County’s South Shore coastline is among the most flood-vulnerable in Massachusetts. Scituate, Marshfield, Duxbury, Kingston, and Plymouth all have barrier beaches, tidal marshes, and low-lying coastal neighborhoods that face significant storm surge risk. In 2026, an elevation certificate costs $400 to $650 from a licensed Massachusetts land surveyor. For many flood-mapped properties, this certificate directly reduces what you pay for flood insurance each year.

Where Flood Risk Is Highest in Plymouth County

Scituate

Scituate is widely recognized as one of the most repetitively flooded communities in New England. The North Scituate Beach area, Third Cliff, and Minot Beach have all experienced major flooding during nor’easters. FEMA Zone VE and Zone AE designations cover large portions of the town’s coastline. Property owners here who are paying the default flood insurance rate without an elevation certificate are almost certainly overpaying if their structures sit above Base Flood Elevation.

Marshfield and Green Harbor

Marshfield’s Green Harbor community sits on a low barrier spit between the harbor and the Atlantic. Green Harbor Road has flooded during multiple major storms. The entire Green Harbor area is mapped in FEMA flood zones. An elevation certificate for a Green Harbor property is not a formality. It is the primary tool for establishing what you actually owe in flood insurance premiums.

Duxbury Beach and Powder Point

Duxbury Beach is a narrow barrier beach with private residences that face direct ocean exposure. Zone VE designations cover the oceanfront side of the beach. Powder Point and other harbor-adjacent neighborhoods in Duxbury carry Zone AE designations. An elevation certificate showing freeboard above BFE can produce substantial insurance savings for these properties.

Plymouth Waterfront and Kingston Bay

Plymouth Town’s waterfront, including the area around Plymouth Harbor and Nelson Street Beach, has FEMA flood zone coverage. Kingston Bay and the Jones River corridor in Kingston also have flood-mapped parcels. New construction in these areas must meet local floodplain management ordinances tied to the NFIP.

How to Check Your Plymouth County Flood Zone

Use the FEMA Map Service Center to look up your address and identify your current flood zone designation. Zone VE and Zone AE mean you are in the Special Flood Hazard Area. If you see Zone AE or Zone VE, contact a licensed surveyor who works the South Shore to schedule an elevation certificate.

How to Get an Elevation Certificate

Confirm your flood zone at msc.fema.gov.
Contact a licensed Massachusetts PLS with South Shore coastal experience.
Provide your address, FIRM panel number, and any existing surveys or prior certificates.
The surveyor visits, takes elevation measurements using GPS or differential leveling, and completes FEMA Form FF-206-FY-22-152.
Share the completed certificate with your flood insurance agent to have your premium accurately rated.

Find a Surveyor for Your Elevation Certificate

Browse licensed land surveyors serving Scituate, Marshfield, Duxbury, Plymouth, Kingston, and all Plymouth County towns at our Plymouth County surveyor directory. Every listing is a Massachusetts-licensed professional under MGL Chapter 112.