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The best answer is “sometimes.”

To get a better idea, it is important to understand a bit about Flood Insurance. Every community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has a Flood Insurance Rate Map. This rate map is what identifies how likely it is that your home will experience flooding. Homes built before this map was created for their community are referred to as “Pre-FIRM” and houses built afterward are referred to as “Post-FIRM.”

If your home is of “Post-FIRM” construction, meaning that is was built after the “FIRM Date” of your municipality, then the answer is almost always “Yes”.  The FIRM dates range from 1974 to 1983 in Ocean County, NJ where our office is located.  You can find your community’s FIRM date by clicking HERE.

However, it usually helps to have an elevation certificate regardless of your construction date.  Elevation surveys cost approximately $600, but this is a worthwhile investment in many cases, as it can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars every year in flood insurance premiums.

FIRM = Flood Insurance Rate Map.

NFIP = National Flood Insurance Program

Pre-FIRM = House was built before the FIRM was established in its community.

Post-FIRM = House was built after the FIRM was established in its community.

FIRM Date = The date that the FIRM was created for a community.