U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you know
        world globe
        Languages
      EnglishEspañolFrançaisKreyòlTiếng Việt简体中文한국어 **Official websites use .gov** A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS** A **lock** (
A locked padlock
) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
              .
  Apply for Assistance


                Toggle Menu

    close
            Disasters & Assistance
                  
                                                      Current DisastersCalifornia Severe StormsHermit's Peak/Calf Canyon FireMaine Severe StormsMichigan Severe StormsRhode Island Severe Storms (December 2023)Rhode Island Severe Storms (January 2024)Washington WildfiresWildfire ActionsWrangell Cooperative Association Severe StormAll Disaster Declarations
Assistance After a DisasterGovernments and Private Non-ProfitsIndividuals and Families
Tools to RecoverCommon RumorsDisaster Multimedia ToolkitDisaster-Related FAQFEMA in Your LanguageSave Your Family TreasuresVolunteer & Donate
General Disaster InformationSearch Your LocationHow a Disaster Gets DeclaredDisaster AuthoritiesHistoric DisastersGrants
                  
                                                      FEMA GrantsPreparedness GrantsHazard Mitigation Assistance GrantsResilience GrantsContinuing Training Grants ProgramEmergency Food and Shelter ProgramShelter and Services Program
Policy & GuidanceProcurement & Contracting"Buy America" PreferenceBipartisan Infrastructure LawLow-Carbon Goals2 CFR Policy Updates
ToolsAuthorized Equipment ListBenefit-Cost AnalysisEnvironmental & Historic Preservation GuidanceFEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO)Grants Management Technical AssistanceNon-Disaster Grants Management SystemFloods & Maps
                  
                                                      Flood InsuranceFind an Insurance FormWork with National Flood InsuranceNFIP’s Pricing ApproachInsurance Outreach PublicationsRules and LegislationFlood Insurance Advocate
Floodplain ManagementManage Floodplain RiskGet Financial HelpCommunity Assistance Program for StatesCommunity Rating SystemFloodplains & Wildlife ConservationIntergovernmental Collaboration
Flood MapsFlood Data Viewers & Geospatial DataChange Your Flood Zone DesignationRisk MAPProducts and ToolsGuidance & ReportsCooperating Technical Partners
Know Your RiskHomeowners, Renters or Business OwnersCommunity OfficialsEngineers, Surveyors or ArchitectsReal Estate, Lending or Insurance ProfessionalsState, Local, Tribal or Territorial GovernmentsEmergency Management
                  
                                                      National PreparednessTraining & EducationNational Incident Management System (NIMS)National Planning FrameworksNational Preparedness GoalContinuity Resource ToolkitEquityExercises
Risk ManagementHazard Mitigation PlanningClimate ResilienceBuilding ScienceEarthquake RiskDam SafetyHurricane, Wind & Water Surge HazardsHazardous Response Capabilities
Tools for PractitionersIntegrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS)Planning GuidesCommunity LifelinesEnvironmental Planning & Historic PreservationRecovery ResourcesCase Study LibraryPrepTalks
Individuals & CommunitiesPreparedness Activities, Research & WebinarsFaith-Based & Volunteer Partnership ResourcesYouth & Emergency PlanningCommunity Emergency Response Team (CERT)Activities to Reduce Risk for Your HomeAbout
                  
                                                      About UsHow FEMA WorksStrategic PlanOffices & LeadershipRegions, States & TerritoriesTribal AffairsHow to Pay FEMAHistory of FEMAContact Us
NewsroomBlogEventsFact SheetsFEMA LiveMobile ProductsNewslettersPress ReleasesPodcastSocial Media
Reports & DataAnnual ReportsData VisualizationsDisaster Relief Fund ReportsFEMA Guidance DocumentsGlossaryOpenFEMAResilience Analysis & Planning Tool
FEMA in ActionWe Are FEMADisaster ResilienceTwenty Years Later: 9/11Work With Us
                  
                                                      CareersBenefitsCareer PathsHow to ApplyRecruitment EventsFEMA Employee Resources
Business and OrganizationsDoing Business with FEMANational Business Emergency Operations Center
PartnershipsCommunity Disaster Resilience ZonesEmergency Manager ExchangeFederal Agency Mission AssignmentsResilient Nation Partnership NetworkApply for Assistance

world globe
        Languages
      EnglishEspañolFrançaisKreyòlTiếng Việt简体中文한국어  Flood Maps
              
              
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

              Change Your Flood Zone Designation
                          Change Your Flood Zone Designation

                      Letter of Map Amendment & Letter of Map Revision-Based on Fill Process
                  
                                        
                    
          
                    
                            
                                        
                    
          
                    
                            
                                        
                    
          
                    
                            
                                        
                    
          
                    
                            
                                        
                    
          
                    
                            
                                        
                    
          
                    
                            
                                        
                    
          
                    
                            
                                                                          Letters of Map Revision and Conditional Letters of Map Revision
                                                Paper Application Forms
                                                Endangered Species Act Compliance
                                                Process to Revise a Flood Map
                                                Community Members' Guide to Initiating Map Revisions
                                                Status of Map Change Requests
                                                Letter of Final Determination
                              
                                                            Flood Data Viewers & Geospatial Data
                                                                                  Risk MAP
                                                        Products and Tools
                                                        Guidance & Reports
                                                        Cooperating Technical Partners
          Letter of Map Amendment & Letter of Map Revision-Based on Fill Process
world globeEnglish
Request a Map Change



Meet Requirements



Effects on Flood Insurance



Tips to Expedite



FEMA uses the most accurate flood hazard information available and applies rigorous standards in developing Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). However, because of limitations of scale or topographic definition of the source maps used to prepare a FIRM, small areas may be inadvertently shown within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) even though the property is on natural ground and is at or above the elevation of the one-percent-annual-chance flood. This elevation is most commonly referred to as the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). Such cases are referred to as "inadvertent inclusions."



For other small areas, **earthen fill** may have been placed during construction, thereby elevating a small area within the SFHA to an elevation that is at or above the BFE. This construction may have taken place during the time the engineering study was being performed or subsequent to that study. Because of the limited extent of the elevated area and the limitations of the map scale, it may not have been possible for FEMA to show this area as being outside the SFHA and so these areas have been incorrectly included in the SFHA on the FIRM.



Requesting a Change to the Flood Insurance Rate Map



Recognizing that these situations do occur, FEMA established administrative procedures to change the designation for these properties on the FIRM. These processes are referred to as the Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) process and the Letter of Map Revision-Based on Fill (LOMR-F) process.



Through these processes, an individual who owns, rents or leases property may submit certain mapping and survey information to FEMA and request that FEMA issue a document that officially removes a property and/or structure from the SFHA. In most cases, the applicant will need to hire a Licensed Land Surveyor or Registered Professional Engineer to prepare an Elevation Certificate for the property.



Upon receiving a complete application forms package through mailing a paper form or through the Online LOMC application, FEMA will normally complete its review and issue its determination in 60 days.



Online Letter of Map Change (LOMC) Training TutorialPDF Link Icon



Determination Requirements



The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulates the requirements for the Letter Of Map Amendment (LOMA) process and the Letter of Map Revision-Based on Fill (LOMR-F) process. See all NFIP regulations and guidance documents.



Endangered Species Act compliance is required independently of FEMA's process. The community needs to ensure that permits are obtained per requirement under Section 60.3(a)(2) of FEMA's regulations.



**Letter Of Map Amendment** (**LOMA**)**Letter of Map Revision-Based on Fill**(**LOMR-F**)**Requests Involving One or More Structures** RequirementsThe lowest adjacent grade (the lowest ground touching the structure) be at or above the base flood elevation (BFE).The lowest adjacent grade of the structure be at or above the BFE. The participating community must also determine that the land and any existing or proposed structures to be removed from the SFHA are "reasonably safe from flooding."**Requests Involving One or More Lots**The lowest point on the lot(s) must be at or above the BFE.Both the lowest point on the lot and the lowest floor of the structure must be at or above the one-percent-annual-chance flood elevation.**Review and Processing Fee**There is no review and processing fee for the FEMA review of a LOMA request.FEMA charges a fee for the review and processing of LOMR-F requests.Guidance DocumentsThe MT-EZ Form is to be used for LOMA requests involving a single residential lot or structure.The MT-1 Forms package and the Online LOMC application is to be used for LOMA requests involving multiple residential lots or structures.The MT-1 Forms package and the Online LOMC application is to be used for all LOMR-F requests.**Required Information**The requester is responsible for providing all of the information needed for FEMA's review of the request, including elevation information certified by a Licensed Land Surveyor or Registered Professional Engineer. For a complete listing of the information that must be submitted in support of a LOMA request, please refer to the MT-EZ (for single lot/structure requests), MT-1 application forms package, or visit the  Online LOMC application.As with LOMA requests, the requester is responsible for providing all supporting information, including elevation information certified by a Licensed Land Surveyor or Registered Professional Engineer. For a complete listing of the information that must be submitted in support of a LOMR-F request, please refer to the MT-1 application forms package or visit the Online LOMC application.Effect Of LOMA Or LOMR-F On Flood Insurance Requirements



The issuance of a LOMA or LOMR-F eliminates the federal flood insurance purchase requirement as a condition of federal or federally backed financing; however, the mortgage lender retains the prerogative to require flood insurance as a condition of providing financing, regardless of the location of a structure.



The purchase of a flood insurance policy is wise even if a structure is located outside the SFHA. More than 25 percent of flood claims are made by property owners located outside the SFHA. The issuance of a LOMA or LOMR-F does not mean the structure or lot is safe from all flooding; it means that the risk of flooding is not as high as it is in the SFHA. Events greater than the one-percent-annual-chance event can and do occur. It is also to important to note that the flood insurance premium rate for structures located outside the SFHA are lower than the premiums for structures located in the SFHA.



Tips to Minimize Delays to Your LOMA Application Process



When an application is submitted, you can expect a response time of:



Notice of submittal completeness within 30 daysAmendment determination issued within 60 days of receipt of all required data.To help keep that response time on track, we have tips to help expedite a map amendment request.



For Fastest Processing, Submit Online



An applicant may submit a LOMA request online via the electronic Letter of Map Amendment (eLOMA) or the Online Letter of Map Change (LOMC) tools.



Surveyor Or Engineer Responsibilities



Indicate the lowest adjacent grade elevation (lowest ground touching the structure, including any attached decks or garage) for all structure requests.



Indicate the lowest lot elevation (lowest ground elevation on the property) for all property requests.



Confirm that elevations are given to the nearest tenth of a foot or meter and are referenced to the same datum as the official National Flood Insurance Program map for the affected community.



For Best Results



Identify correct process/productAnswer all questions on formsUse data checklists provided with the formsSubmit data all at once
Last updated May 9, 2023

            Return to top Disasters & Assistance
      
    
                  Grants
      
    
                  Floods & Maps
      
    
                  Emergency Management
      
    
                  About
      
    
                  Work With Us

Facebook

          Instagram


          Twitter

          YouTube

          LinkedIn

          Newsletter

        Contact FEMA

DHS logo
              FEMA.govAn official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
          Accessibility
                Accountability
                Careers
                Civil Rights
                Contact Us
                FOIA
                Glossary
                No FEAR Act
                Plug-Ins
                Privacy
                Report Disaster Fraud
                Website Information
                DHS.gov
                USA.gov
                Inspector General