Flood Zone & Elevation Certificate
FEMA flood-zone classification determines whether a property requires elevation certification before construction.
What flood zone & elevation certificate actually means.
Properties in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zones A, AE, VE, etc.) require an elevation certificate documenting the existing floor elevation relative to the base flood elevation. Additions, substantial improvements, and new construction in flood zones must meet specific elevation requirements — typically the new floor must be at or above base flood elevation. Most coastal North Georgia (east of US-1 in Clayton, east of A1A in Lake Burton, coastal Gainesville) sits in mapped flood zones.
- FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations
- Georgia Building Code Section 1612 — flood-resistant construction
Adjacent definitions.
- Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL)
Georgia DEP-administered line east of which construction requires additional permitting and engineering for coastal storm exposure.
See the definition - Georgia Building Code (FBC)
The unified set of building, residential, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and energy codes governing all construction in Georgia.
See the definition