An Elevation Certificate documents important features of your property, including its location, flood zone, building characteristics and, most importantly, the elevation of its lowest floor. An Elevation Certificate is needed to know your building’s elevation compared to the estimated height floodwaters will reach in the event of a major flood and it helps provide a true picture of the status of compliance with floodplain ordinances so as to determine your flood risk and the cost of your flood insurance premium. (floods.org)