Service
LOMA eligibility
Check the conditions that usually determine whether a LOMA request is plausible before investing more time or money.
Most eligibility questions come down to three issues: the property needs to be on natural high ground, the file needs reliable elevation support, and the request must match the structure or parcel actually at issue.
Key takeaways
Signals a file may be eligible
Signals to slow down
What to gather before review
Frequently asked questions
What actually makes a property eligible for a LOMA?
Eligibility comes down to whether the lowest adjacent grade of the structure or the lowest ground on the parcel is at or above the Base Flood Elevation, and whether that elevation exists naturally rather than from placed fill. FEMA weighs both the elevation evidence and the property story, so the two must agree.
How can I pre-check eligibility before paying for a survey?
Start by comparing publicly available LiDAR or contour data to the Base Flood Elevation for your panel, and confirm whether the site was graded or built on fill. A brief professional review of existing documents, permits, and aerial imagery usually signals whether ordering a full Elevation Certificate is worthwhile.
What are the most common reasons a LOMA request is disqualified?
Fill-built pads, elevations that fall below the BFE by even a tenth of a foot, scope mismatches between the request and the evidence, and missing or outdated survey data are the usual disqualifiers. Cases that rely on assumptions rather than measured data also tend to fail.
What should I verify before ordering a new Elevation Certificate?
Confirm the correct FEMA panel and effective BFE, the intended scope (structure, lot, or both), and whether any prior EC or survey already exists on file. Verifying these inputs first avoids paying for a survey that does not answer the right question.
How strong does the Elevation Certificate need to be?
The EC must be prepared by a licensed land surveyor or registered professional engineer, be current, and tie the elevations to the same vertical datum as the effective FIRM. Gaps in the required fields or outdated datum references can cause FEMA to pause the review.
Is structure-only eligibility different from lot-only eligibility?
Yes. A structure can sit above the BFE while part of the lot remains below it, or vice versa. Scope is decided by what elevation the evidence supports, not by what the owner prefers, and mixing the two can weaken the file.
Does the current flood zone alone decide whether a LOMA is possible?
No. Being mapped in Zone A, AE, or another Special Flood Hazard Area only means a LOMA may be worth evaluating. Whether it succeeds depends on measured elevations relative to the BFE, not on the zone label.
Can a previously denied LOMA be re-submitted?
Yes, if the underlying facts or evidence change, such as a new Elevation Certificate, corrected datum, or revised scope. Resubmitting the same package that was denied is unlikely to produce a different result.