Base flood elevation (BFE)
The height floodwater is expected to reach in a 1%-annual-chance flood, used to set building heights.
The base flood elevation is the water surface elevation FEMA calculates for the 1%-annual-chance flood, shown on flood maps in zones such as AE and VE. Local ordinances generally require the lowest floor of a new or substantially improved building to sit at or above it, and many add a margin of a foot or more, called freeboard.
Why it matters
The BFE turns a flood zone into a construction budget. If the ground at your building site is several feet below the BFE, the house goes up on fill, piers, or a raised foundation. An elevation certificate from a surveyor compares your actual ground and floor heights with the BFE, and it is the document an insurer prices from.
Sources
Related terms
- Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)
Land FEMA maps as having at least a 1% chance of flooding in any given year — the "100-year floodplain".
- Flood zone
The letter code FEMA assigns to an area on a flood map to describe its mapped flood risk.
Articles on this topic
- How to research a property yourself, step by stepMay 20, 2026
- Why you should analyze land before you buy itMarch 12, 2026
See what the record says about your property
Find the parcel on the map and run a Basic report — no account needed to read the result.
Find a parcel