The flood map and my elevation certificate both mention "BFE". What does it mean?
Asked October 25, 2026
AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor
The base flood elevation (BFE) is the computed elevation that floodwater is expected to reach in a flood with a 1% chance of happening in any given year. That's often called the "100-year flood" [1].
- It's shown on FEMA flood maps for many high-risk areas (zones such as AE).
- It's given as an elevation, for example "BFE 12 feet", on a specific vertical datum such as NAVD 88.
- Building codes in flood zones often require the lowest floor to be at or above the BFE, sometimes with extra height called freeboard.
To compare your house with the BFE, a surveyor measures your floor and ground elevations on the same datum [2]. Mixing datums is a common mistake that can make a house look higher or lower than it really is.
General information only. Answers here are not a survey or legal advice, and no one here can tell you where your boundary is. For your property, hire a licensed land surveyor in your state; for legal questions, a real-estate attorney.