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As we continue our recovery and cleanup efforts, please visit the Emergency website for the latest information on openings and closings in Miami-Dade County.

Elevation Certificates

If you have determined that your house lies in a flood zone, a Flood Elevation Certificate can then tell you how high your house was built in relation to that flood zone.

These certificates are required for all new construction and substantial improvements to a structure. An Elevation Certificate is an important document that every homeowner should have, and in case of a disaster, would demonstrate to County authorities that your house is at or above the required elevation.

If the certificate shows that your house is lower, then the so-called "50% rule" would apply to your house. This rule means that if your house is in a flood zone and is damaged and/or improved to an amount greater than 50% of its market value, it will have to be raised to meet the current elevation requirement.

Miami-Dade County has been collecting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Elevation Certificate  from home builders/developers since 1995 as a requirement of their building permit. Elevation certificates are also required for substantially damaged structures.

For more information, call 305-372-6466 during office hours.

To obtain your flood elevation certificate

If the home was built before 1995 and you have never substantially improved or experienced substantial damage to the structure, you may need to hire a surveyor or you can ask the prior owner for the Flood Elevation Certificate.

If the home was built after 1995, you may be able to find your elevation certificate by using our Elevation Certificate Search Application. If your home was built after 1995 and you are unable to access the information, we may have the information on file but have not scanned the Certificate as of yet.

Tie beam inspection holds

A Tie Beam Inspection Hold is required on all new construction and substantial additions. This means that an Under Construction Elevation Certificate showing floor elevation, adjacent grade elevation and crown of road elevation will be required. For more information, call 786-315-2800.

Note to builders and surveyors

The new FEMA elevation certificate forms and the flood proofing certificate form are available for download.

If you cannot view PDF PDF files, you can download Acrobat Reader  for free from Adobe Systems, Inc. In order to use PDF files, you must have Acrobat installed on your computer.

Back to Top Page Last Edited: Fri May 31, 2024 11:40:34 AM
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Flood Protection Information

Floodplain Management Program
786-315-2800

Flood & Drainage Complaints
305-372-6688
Or complete and submit form

Flood Zone Maps
305-372-6466

Flood Protection Brochure

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