Elevation Certificates in Sheboygan 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 Sheboygan County, the primary flood risk areas involve the Sheboygan River corridor and, for some properties, Lake Michigan's coastal zone.
Sheboygan County Flood Risk Areas
The Sheboygan River flows east through the county, passing through Sheboygan Falls before entering Lake Michigan in the city of Sheboygan. Low-lying properties along the river in Sheboygan Falls and in the lower river corridor approaching the lake carry FEMA SFHA designations in sections where the floodplain is broad. During spring high-water events, these areas are the most likely to experience flooding.
Lake Michigan's shoreline in Sheboygan County presents a different type of flood risk. Some coastal properties may carry wave action or coastal flood zone designations on FEMA's maps, separate from river flooding. These coastal designations reflect storm surge and wave runup potential during high wind and lake level events, which are distinct from riverine flooding.
What the Certificate Involves
A licensed surveyor measures the elevation of your building's lowest floor and other required reference points, connects those measurements to an established benchmark, and completes the official FEMA elevation certificate form. In Sheboygan's urban areas, established benchmarks are plentiful. Rural properties or those near the river in Sheboygan Falls may require slightly more fieldwork to establish the elevation connection.
Using the Certificate to Reduce Insurance Costs
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. Many Sheboygan County property owners in flood-adjacent areas find that the certificate cost is recovered quickly through reduced insurance payments.
Find licensed surveyors who handle elevation certificates in Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, and throughout Sheboygan County through our Sheboygan County land surveyor directory.