Floodplain and Elevation-Certificate Routing — Hillsborough County

Steps

1. 1

   Confirm the parcel jurisdiction before selecting a floodplain authority

   Use the County Map Viewer only as a general-information aid to help locate the parcel and potential government services; the County disclaims the maps' accuracy and completeness and says viewers should not rely on the data. Confirm whether the property is in unincorporated Hillsborough, Tampa, Plant City, or Temple Terrace with the responsible authority before selecting a floodplain authority. The local floodplain administrator and building official for that jurisdiction enforce development rules; a mailing city, countywide map, insurer, or lender does not transfer permitting authority.

   maps.hillsboroughcounty.org/MapHillsborough/MapHillsborough.
2. 2

   Review effective FEMA mapping and local flood information separately

   Use the FEMA Flood Map Service Center or the responsible jurisdiction's current map link for the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map, panel, zone, and base-flood information. For unincorporated property, also review the County Floodplain Viewer because County watershed floodplains can trigger local development regulations even though federal flood-insurance requirements are based on FEMA FIRMs.

   hcfl.gov/residents/public-safety/flooding/find-my-flood-zone
3. 3

   Do not substitute an evacuation zone for a flood zone

   Evacuation planning, FEMA insurance mapping, local watershed floodplains, stormwater conditions, and observed flooding answer different questions. Confirm the layer, effective date, datum, and authority before using map information for design, insurance, lending, or permitting.

   hcfl.gov/residents/public-safety/flooding/evacuation-zones-v
4. 4

   Obtain a parcel-specific local development determination

   Ask the responsible local building or floodplain office whether the proposed construction, addition, alteration, repair, fill, grading, enclosure, equipment, manufactured home, or substantial improvement/damage work requires floodplain review, design elevations, floodproofing, openings, certifications, or other conditions. A map lookup alone is not a permit approval.

   tampa.gov/construction-services/flood-information
5. 5

   Use qualified professionals for required elevation documentation

   When the local authority, insurer, lender, or FEMA process requires elevation or floodproofing documentation, use the current form and a professional authorized for the applicable sections and measurements. Confirm required datum conversions, photographs, building diagrams, construction-stage submissions, signatures, seals, and corrections with the recipient.

   templeterrace.gov/365/Flood-Awareness
6. 6

   Search existing certificates through the responsible jurisdiction

   For unincorporated Hillsborough, the County publishes separate retrieval paths: post-February 2021 certificates through HillsGovHub, 2005–2021 certificates through the PGM Store, and possible pre-2005 records by request to Floodplain Administration. Temple Terrace directs requests for certificates provided to the City to Public Works. Ask Tampa or Plant City for their current record route rather than assuming County custody.

   hcfl.gov/residents/public-safety/flooding/floodplain-managem
7. 7

   Treat a FEMA map-change request as a separate federal action

   If the effective FEMA map may not reflect the property's location or elevation, review FEMA's Letter of Map Change process. A local certificate or permit does not itself amend a FIRM, and a LOMA or LOMR does not automatically waive local floodplain, building, stormwater, or other development requirements.

   msc.fema.gov/portal/home
8. 8

   Complete permit, certificate, and closeout requirements

   Submit required floodplain materials with the local building or development case, respond to review comments, obtain approvals before regulated work, and provide construction-stage or final certificates and inspections as directed. Keep insurance and lender documentation separate from local permit closeout.

   hcfl.gov/businesses/permits-and-records

Fees