What Is an Elevation Certificate?
An elevation certificate is an official document that records the elevation of your building relative to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) in your area. FEMA uses the BFE to define the 1-percent annual chance flood level, also known as the 100-year flood level. Your building's elevation compared to the BFE is the primary factor that determines your National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance premium.
In Sangamon County, the areas most likely to require elevation certificates include properties near the Sangamon River, Lake Springfield, and low-lying neighborhoods in Springfield and surrounding communities such as Sherman, Rochester, and Chatham.
When You Need an Elevation Certificate in Sangamon County
- Buying or renewing flood insurance: If your property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), your insurer will likely require a current elevation certificate to rate your policy accurately. Without one, insurers must use conservative default assumptions that often result in higher premiums.
- Building or improving in a flood zone: Sangamon County and the City of Springfield require elevation documentation when issuing permits for construction or substantial improvements in mapped flood zones.
- Applying for a LOMA: If you believe your property has been incorrectly included in a flood zone on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), an elevation certificate is the first step toward requesting a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) to remove your property.
- Selling a property: Buyers of properties in or near flood zones often request a current elevation certificate as part of due diligence.
Flood Risk in Sangamon County
The Sangamon River runs through the county and is the primary source of flood risk in Sangamon County. Springfield's Lake Springfield, formed by a dam on the South Fork of the Sangamon River, adds additional floodplain area to consider. FEMA maintains current Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Sangamon County through the Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov. You can enter your address there to see whether your property falls in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area.
Springfield and Sangamon County participate in the NFIP, which means property owners in mapped flood zones can purchase federally backed flood insurance. An elevation certificate allows your insurer to rate your specific property rather than using the highest-risk default assumptions.
What an Elevation Certificate Includes
A completed elevation certificate documents:
- The property's location and legal description
- The FEMA flood zone and Base Flood Elevation for the property
- The elevation of the lowest floor of the building
- The elevation of attached and detached garages
- The elevation of machinery and equipment that serve the building
- Whether the building has a crawlspace, basement, or enclosure below the lowest floor
- Photographs of the building and the elevation datum used
The surveyor stamps and signs the certificate with their Illinois PLS seal, which gives it legal standing with FEMA and insurers.
What It Costs in Sangamon County
Most residential elevation certificates in Sangamon County cost between $400 and $700. Springfield properties with clear lot access and recent survey monuments on file tend to come in at the lower end. Rural properties in the county, or those with complex site conditions near the Sangamon River floodplain, may run higher. Fees can vary between firms, so it is worth getting at least two quotes.
How to Find a Licensed Surveyor for Your Elevation Certificate
Only a licensed Professional Land Surveyor, licensed engineer, or authorized local floodplain manager can legally complete an elevation certificate in Illinois. Most property owners hire a licensed PLS. You can verify that a surveyor holds an active Illinois PLS license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) license lookup at idfpr.illinois.gov.
When requesting quotes, ask whether the firm has completed elevation certificates in Sangamon County before and whether they are familiar with the specific FIRM panels covering your neighborhood. Familiarity with local flood maps can reduce research time and keep your cost down.
Find a Licensed Surveyor in Sangamon County
Use our Sangamon County land surveyor directory to find licensed Illinois PLS firms that complete elevation certificates in Springfield and surrounding areas. Compare listings, read reviews, and request quotes from multiple surveyors to find the right fit for your project.