The new Elevation Certificate is finally here and can be downloaded at https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/find-form/underwriting. You must download the file to your computer by scrolling down to the link beneath the form listed as "Elevation Certificate Form and Instructions"; then right mouse click on the "Download File" and select the "Save link as..." option. At this point in time, trying to open it in the web browser will most likely result in an “outdated PDF viewer” message. Note that as of now, the "Elevation Certificate Form and Instructions" link on this page is the only location we are aware of to download the new EC; the Elevation Certificate page on FEMA.gov still has the 2019 version, as does the “form only” link on the Underwriting page. There may also be some functionality issues with the PDF form; it is being tested. 

Our understanding is that an official FEMA bulletin will be coming out soon announcing the form and when its use is required, and that there will not be a transition period; this is consistent with FEMA Bulletin W-16040. As far as we know, use of the new EC will be mandatory for CRS communities beginning July 7, 2023. That requirement may be reversed with a forthcoming guidance in a FEMA bulletin which could be issued at any time but it's best to follow existing guidance for now. Therefore, we encourage communities to forward this information to your EC Certifiers, including surveyors, engineers, and architects, and to your other departments; and we encourage EC Certifiers to forward this information to your local community officials. 

Since the new EC can now be used, even if it is not mandatory, we encourage all surveyors and engineers using the form to transition to the 2022 form as soon as possible, to avoid any potential delays in permitting and certificate of occupancy issuance once the official FEMA Bulletin is issued.

In addition, FEMA Form FF-206-FY-22-153 (formerly 086-0-34): The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Dry Flood-proofing Certificate has been updated and is available at the same website listed above or the link below. It has a new format and instructions. The form is used to certify a dry floodproofing design that may be permitted as an alternative to elevating to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) for non-residential buildings and the dry floodproofed non-residential portions of mixed-use buildings.

Once we have heard back from subject matter experts in the floodplain management industry, we will provide guidance regarding the difference between the new (2023) form and it's instructions compared to the 2019 version. 

In addition, our NFIP Office will have three EC Trainings coming up in October that will be based on the new EC. Information about those will be forthcoming. In the meantime, you can utilize FEMA's Emergency Management Institute's online Independent Study classes to learn more about elevation certificates. One class is designed for surveyors and engineers and the other for reviewers. See the links provided in the column to the left.