What Is an Elevation Certificate?
An elevation certificate is a standardized FEMA document completed by a licensed land surveyor. It records your building's lowest floor elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) for your FEMA flood zone. Insurance companies use it under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to calculate your annual premium. Volusia County and its municipalities also require it for building permits in Special Flood Hazard Areas.
From Daytona Beach's busy beachside to the quiet riverside communities of DeLand and Deltona, Volusia County has a diverse flood exposure profile that the elevation certificate helps property owners navigate.
Volusia County's Flood Geography: Coast, Halifax River, and the St. Johns
Volusia County stretches from the Atlantic coast in the east to the St. Johns River in the west. It is one of Florida's most geographically varied counties for flood risk, with coastal Atlantic exposure, tidal lagoon flooding, and freshwater riverine flooding all present within the same county lines.
Daytona Beach is Volusia County's most recognizable community. Its barrier island, sometimes called the Daytona Beach Shores and Ponce Inlet area, faces direct Atlantic storm surge exposure. The Halifax River, a tidal segment of the Intracoastal Waterway, separates the barrier island from mainland Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Properties along the Halifax are in Zone AE, where storm surge pushes through the river corridor during major storms.
New Smyrna Beach at the southern end of the county sits at the junction of the Indian River Lagoon and the Halifax corridor. It has both Atlantic-facing barrier island properties in high-hazard zones and bay-front properties with active flood zone exposure.
In the western part of the county, DeLand, Orange City, and Deltona sit on or near the St. Johns River floodplain. The St. Johns is a slow-moving, northward-flowing river with a broad, flat floodplain. Properties near Lake Beresford, Spring Garden Lake, and the main St. Johns channel can be in Zone AE based on freshwater flooding risk that has nothing to do with the coast.
Flood Zones in Volusia County
- Zone VE: Oceanfront properties on the Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach barrier islands facing direct Atlantic wave action during surge
- Zone AE: Halifax River corridor, Intracoastal properties, New Smyrna Beach bay-front areas, and western St. Johns River floodplain properties
- Zone A: Some St. Johns River margin areas where BFEs have not been fully calculated
- Zone X: The majority of Volusia County's suburban and inland areas, including most of the Daytona Beach suburbs and central Deltona
Why Volusia County Property Owners Need Elevation Certificates
The variety of flood scenarios in Volusia County means that property owners in very different parts of the county may each find value in the elevation certificate for different reasons:
- Daytona Beach coastal and Halifax River properties: Direct Atlantic and tidal flood risk means mandatory flood insurance for many properties. An accurate certificate documents actual floor elevation and can reduce premiums when the structure sits above the BFE.
- New Smyrna Beach: Both the oceanfront and the Intracoastal communities here have active flood zone exposure. NSB has seen FEMA map revisions that moved properties into and out of high-risk zones, making current certificates important for accurate insurance rating.
- Western Volusia and St. Johns corridor: Properties near DeLand and Deltona that are in Zone AE based on riverine flooding may be insurable at lower rates than the default if the structure sits above BFE. These properties are also good LOMA candidates in some cases.
- New construction in flood zones: Building activity in Volusia County's growth areas requires elevation certificates for permit compliance when work occurs in SFHAs.
The Insurance Cost Impact
The elevation certificate's financial value is consistent across Volusia County, though the scale varies by location:
- A Daytona beachside property at BFE in Zone VE can carry annual premiums in the thousands of dollars. Documentation of floor elevation above BFE can reduce that significantly.
- A Halifax River AE-zone property rated without a certificate may pay a default premium higher than its actual risk warrants. A certificate often corrects that.
- A western Volusia property in Zone AE near the St. Johns may be paying mandatory flood insurance that a LOMA could eliminate entirely.
Typical Cost in Volusia County
Elevation certificates in Volusia County typically cost between $175 and $425. Cost factors include:
- Coastal versus inland location
- Whether the property is in a VE zone requiring coastal construction documentation
- Whether the certificate is combined with other survey work
- Property access and complexity
How to Get an Elevation Certificate in Volusia County
- Check existing records. Volusia County's Building Division, as well as city building departments in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, and DeLand, may have certificates on file from prior permits or real estate transactions.
- Verify the FIRM is current. Volusia County has had FEMA map revisions. Make sure any existing certificate references the current FIRM effective date for your specific parcel.
- Hire a licensed Florida surveyor. Request quotes from surveyors familiar with Volusia County's range of flood zones, from coastal VE zones to inland St. Johns floodplain areas.
- Submit to your insurer. Provide the completed, signed certificate to your flood insurance agent for a premium review.
Browse the directory to find licensed surveyors in Volusia County who offer elevation certificates for coastal, Halifax River, and St. Johns River flood zone properties.