Online LOMC – Frequently Asked Questions
General Letter of Map Change (LOMC) Information |
The Online LOMC web application allows home owners or their designated representatives to easily request a Letter of Map Change (LOMC). Use this site if your property was inadvertently included in a flood zone, or if the addition of fill elevated your property so that it is above the flood zone.
A LOMC is a letter that reflects an official revision and/or an amendment to an effective FIRM, which as various uses. If a property owner thinks their property has been inadvertently mapped in a SFHA, property owners or their representatives may submit a request to FEMA for a LOMC. In another use, FEMA issues LOMCs in place of physically revising an effective FIRM.
The community is also responsible for submitting data to FEMA reflecting revised flood hazard information when physical changes within the floodplain have occurred so that NFIP maps can be revised as appropriate. This will allow risk premium rates and floodplain management requirements to be based on current data.
FEMA uses the best data available and applies rigorous standards in developing FIRMs. However, due to scale limitations, FIRMs cannot reflect every rise in terrain, and some areas of high ground may be inadvertently included in SFHAs. Additionally, sometimes properties that are mapped in the floodplain have been impacted by the placement of fill and are no longer in the SFHA. If property owners or community officials would like FEMA to provide an official flood zone determination for their property or area they can request a LOMC.
By requesting a LOMC, an applicant may submit certain modeling, mapping, and survey information to FEMA and request that FEMA officially remove an area, 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 supply certified elevation information for the property or structure.
A LOMC may also be requested when a community proposes to permit encroachments upon the floodplain when a regulatory floodway has not been adopted or to permit encroachments upon an adopted regulatory floodway which will cause the base flood elevation to increase.
A community can also request a LOMC when base flood elevations or SFHA extents increase or decrease as a result of physical changes affecting flooding conditions.
FEMA issues several types of LOMCs. Requests that are more complex typically require more supporting documentation. Currently, applicants may request a LOMC by submitting paper forms or submitting online through the new Online LOMC application. Licensed professional engineers and surveyors may also submit online using the eLOMA Tool, which is different from the new Online LOMC application tool.
Upon receiving all required information, FEMA will review submitted material and determine whether or not to remove the designation of the SFHA or revise the effective data shown on a community's FIRM or Flood Insurance Study (FIS).
Determinations are dated and sent to the applicant and filed with the municipality or county within which the property, community or area is located.
The Online LOMC request tool is the web-based version of the paper MT-1 form. You may request the following determinations from FEMA online:
General Flood Map Information |
In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to help provide a means for property owners to protect themselves financially in the event of a flood. The NFIP offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners if their community participates in the NFIP.
For more information visit the NFIP website at https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program or https://www.floodsmart.gov
As part of the agreement for making flood insurance available in a community, the NFIP requires the participating community to adopt floodplain management ordinances containing certain minimum requirements intended to reduce future flood losses. The NFIP regulations for floodplain management are the minimum criteria a community must adopt for participation in the NFIP. The community is responsible for approving all proposed floodplain development and for ensuring that permits required by Federal or State law have been received.
A flood map is a map of a community within the United States and Territories that displays the high-risk floodplains, specifically, Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) and may also show floodways and Base Flood Elevations (BFEs). A SFHA is a land area at high risk for flooding. A home located within an SFHA has a 26 percent chance of suffering flood damage during the term of a 30-year mortgage. FEMA produces FIRMs.
FEMA produces Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and Flood Hazard Boundary Maps (FHBM). The FIRM is the most common map used by communities. At a minimum, flood maps show flood risk zones and their boundaries, and may also show floodways and Base Flood Elevations (BFE). More recent flood map products include digital FIRMs (DFIRM). Communities may incorporate DFIRMs into their Geographic Information System (GIS) databases.
FEMA sets the flood zone areas and boundaries in consultation with communities, states, and other stakeholders.
If a property owner believes their property has been incorrectly mapped in a Special Flood Hazard Area, homeowners, property owners, or their representatives may submit a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a Letter of Map Change (LOMC). A LOMC is a letter that reflects an official revision to an effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).
Beginning the Online LOMC Process |
The Online LOMC web application is a convenient tool that allows applicants to initiate a request, check the status of their application in real time, submit required documents, and pay online. There is no difference in the data requirements between the Online LOMC and MT-EZ, MT-1 and MT-2 paper form. However, there are many benefits to requesting a LOMC online:
Access the Online LOMC web application here:
www.fema.gov/online-lomc.
Anyone, including communities, home or property owners, their representatives, and professional surveyors and engineers, may submit a LOMC request using the Online LOMC. Certification by licensed engineering or surveying professionals is required for some supporting documentation, which may be scanned and uploaded by the applicant.
FEMA designed the eLOMA tool to allow licensed professionals (surveyors and engineers) to submit simple LOMA applications on behalf of property owners. The Online LOMC tool is available to any applicant that would like to submit a LOMA, CLOMA, LOMR-F, LOMR, CLOMR or CLOMR-F request directly to FEMA.
The Online LOMC tool is an alternative to the MT-1 and MT-2 paper forms and/or MT-EZ paper form.
The eLOMA tool allows licensed professionals to receive an instant determination. A determination resulting from using the Online LOMC tool is not received until after FEMA reviews the supporting documentation and receives payment (if payment is required) and may take up to 90 days to receive a determination.
The MT-1 portion of the Online LOMC is for all Amendment requests: LOMA, CLOMA, LOMR-F, and CLOMR-F. The MT-1 portion should be used to assist requesters in gathering the information that FEMA needs to determine whether property (i.e., structure(s), parcel(s) of land) is likely to be flooded during the flood event that has a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (base, or 100-year, flood). Lands that are at risk of being inundated by the base flood are called Special Flood Hazard Areas, or SFHAs.
The MT-2 portion of the Online LOMC is for all Revision requests: LOMR and CLOMR. This portion should be used for revisions to effective FIS reports, FIRMs, or Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps (FBFMs) by individual and community requesters. This portion will provide FEMA with assurance that all pertinent data relating to the revision are included in the submittal. This will also verify: (a) the data and methodology are based on current or proposed conditions; (b) qualified professionals have assembled data and performed all necessary computations; and (c) all individuals and organizations affected by proposed changes are aware of the changes and will have an opportunity to comment on them.
Payment must be in the form of a credit card or E-Check. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are accepted credit cards. Payment by E-Check requires approximately three business days to process. FEMA will generate a case number and begin to review your request once payment has been processed.
The Online LOMC web application requires specific information regarding the property (parcels) of land or structure(s), including the location, legal description, and use of fill. In accordance with NFIP regulations, FEMA uses the information required in the Online LOMC web application process to make a determination on whether a property is located within a designated SFHA. In certain instances, additional data that are not referenced in this process may be required. A FEMA representative will notify the applicant of any additional requirements.
Applicants may submit their Online LOMC web application and generate a FEMA case number prior to submitting these additional documents. However, in order to complete the LOMC request and get a final determination from FEMA, the designated additional documentation is required.
| Additional Requirement | Where is this document? | LOMA | LOMR | LOMR–F | CLOMA | CLOMR | CLOMR–F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation Form or Existing Elevation Certificate* | Within Online LOMC application | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| FIRM Panel or FIRMette | MSC Store | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| (A) Tax Assessor's Map (or other suitable map) AND Subdivision Plat Map OR | County/Parish Clerk, Recorder, or Registrar of Deeds for the Community | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| (B)Tax Assessor's Map (or other suitable map) AND Property Deed | County/Parish Clerk, Recorder, or Registrar of Deeds for the Community | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Community Acknowledgment Form | Within the Online LOMC Application | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| ESA Compliance Documentation | Contact National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State wildlife agency office, or Independent Biologist | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Riverine Hydrology and Hydraulics Form | fema.gov Library | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Riverine Structures Form | fema.gov Library | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Coastal Analysis Form | fema.gov Library | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Coastal Structures Form | fema.gov Library | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Alluvial Fan Flooding Form | fema.gov Library | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
*NOTE: If the request is to make a determination on the structure and an NFIP Elevation Certificate has already been completed for this property, it may be submitted in lieu of the Elevation Form. Check with your community to see if an Elevation Certificate is already on file for your property or structure.
In accordance with the NFIP regulations, FEMA will use the information provided by the applicant to make a determination on whether a property is located within a designated SFHA flood hazard information (SFHA, BFEs and floodway) can be updated to reflect existing field conditions. In certain instances, a FEMA representative may contact an applicant for additional data not referenced in the required forms.
A licensed land surveyor or registered professional engineer (authorized by law to certify the information requested) must complete the Elevation Form. If the request is to:
- Make a determination on the structure, and an NFIP Elevation Certificate has already been completed for this property, it may be submitted in lieu of this form
- Make a determination on the entire legally recorded property, or a portion thereof, the lowest lot elevation must be provided on the Elevation Form
- Have the SFHA designation determined for the entire legally recorded property, but the only elevation provided is the Lowest Adjacent Grade to Structure, the determination will be issued for the structure
The Elevation Certificate is one way for an applicant to comply with the requirement that the community obtain the elevation of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new and substantially improved structures and maintain a record of such information.
If an Elevation Certificate has been prepared for an applicant's property, he or she may be able to obtain it from the property developer or from community officials. Communities often require preparation of Elevation Certificates for properties as part of the permitting process. An applicant can contact his or her local floodplain officials or the planning and zoning office to see if an Elevation Certificate already exists for the property.
Elevation Certificates must be prepared and certified by a Licensed Land Surveyor, Registered Professional Engineer, or Registered Architect who is authorized by State or local law to certify elevation information. Community officials who are authorized by local law or ordinance to provide floodplain management information may also sign the certificate.
The Community Acknowledgment form must be completed for requests involving the existing or proposed placement of fill. The form must be completed and signed by the official responsible for floodplain management in the community. The applicant may then upload this document into the Online LOMC and submit it. This form is provided within the Online LOMC application.
Space has been provided within each section for the community official to provide comments on the project. If additional space is required by the community official to provide the community's comments on a project, additional sheets may be attached to the back of this form.
FEMA requires documentation of ESA compliance for a proposed project before it will process Conditional Letters of Map Revision (CLOMRs) or Conditional Letters of Map Revision based on Fill (CLOMR-Fs), but it is not FEMAs role to assist with accomplishing ESA compliance for private actions or non-FEMA federal actions.
If federal construction, funding or permitting is involved in a project for which a CLOMR or CLOMR-F is being requested, then the applicant may use that agencys Section 7 consultation to document to FEMA that ESA compliance has been achieved. The documentation may be:
While FEMA does not play a role in ESA compliance for proposed private development, these projects are required to comply with the ESA independently of FEMAs process. For these projects, the requester must document that:
AMENDMENTS |
Completing the MT-1 Amendments Application |
The four basic types of LOMCs are:
Once an application and all necessary data are received, FEMA will notify the applicant of the determination electronically within 60 days of the date of receipt of all required data. However, even though a LOMC may waive the federal requirement for flood insurance, property owners should still evaluate their risk and consider investing in flood insurance. A lender retains the prerogative to require flood insurance.
Additional Documents Required for MT-1 |
The Online LOMC application requires specific information regarding the property (parcels) of land or structure(s), including the location, legal description, and use of fill. In accordance with NFIP regulations, FEMA uses the information required in the Online LOMC application process to make a determination on whether a property is located within a designated SFHA.
In order to complete the LOMA request and receive a case number and a final determination from FEMA, the designated additional documentation is required. In certain instances, additional data may be required. A FEMA representative will notify the applicant of any additional requirements needed to complete the request.
Additional documents required for the MT-1 Application:
* NOTE: If the request is to make a determination on the structure and an NFIP Elevation Certificate has already been completed for this property, it may be submitted in lieu of the Elevation Form. Check with your community to see if an Elevation Certificate is already on file for your property or structure.
**NOTE: The purpose of the ESA is to conserve threatened and endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. Go to the Compliance with the Endangered Species Act for Letters of Map Change to receive more guidance on how to obtain this documentation.
A licensed land surveyor or registered professional engineer (authorized by law to certify the information requested) must complete
the Elevation Form. If the request is to:
The Elevation Certificate is one way for a community to comply with the requirement that they keep records of the elevation of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new and substantially improved structures in the SFHA.
If an Elevation Certificate has been prepared for an applicant's property, he or she may be able to obtain it from the property developer or from community officials. Communities often require preparation of Elevation Certificates for properties as part of the permitting process. An applicant can contact his or her local floodplain officials or the planning and zoning office to see if an Elevation Certificate already exists for the property.
Elevation Certificates must be prepared and certified by a Licensed Land Surveyor, Registered Professional Engineer, or Registered Architect who is authorized by state or local law to certify elevation information. In rare instances, community officials who are authorized by local law or ordinance to provide floodplain management information may also sign the certificate.
The Community Acknowledgment form must be completed for requests involving the existing or proposed placement of fill. The form must be completed and signed by the official responsible for floodplain management in the community.
The applicant may then upload this document into the Online LOMC and submit it. This form is provided within the Online LOMC application.
CLOMR-F applicants are responsible for documenting to FEMA that Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance has been achieved prior to FEMA's review of a CLOMR or CLOMR-F application. ESA compliance may be documented by submitting to FEMA a copy of one of the following:
Documentation will be reviewed by FEMA as needed. In addition to the required documentation from NMFS or USFWS, the applicant must also include all relevant reports, including environmental and/or biological assessments, a description of the species or critical habitat that may be affected, and any other relevant information provided to NMFS or USFWS. The applicant may begin by contacting a NMFS or USFWS office, state wildlife agency office, or independent biologist to identify whether threatened or endangered species exist on the subject property and whether the project associated with the CLOMR-F request would adversely affect species or designated critical habitat. These entities are also available to discuss questions pertaining to listed species and ESA compliance.
If potential adverse impacts could occur, then NMFS or USFWS may require changes to the proposed activity and/or mitigation.
For LOMA, LOMRs, and LOMR-F requests involving floodplain activities that have already occurred, as well as CLOMAs, private applicants and local and state jurisdictions are required to comply with the ESA independently of FEMA's process.These requests do not provide the same opportunity as CLOMR-Fs for FEMA to comment on the project because CLOMAs and LOMAs do not involve a physical modification to the floodplain.
After Completing the Online LOMC Process |
Once an application and all necessary data are received, FEMA will notify the applicant of the determination in writing within 60 days of the date of receipt of all required data. However, even though a LOMC may waive the Federal requirement for flood insurance, property owners should still evaluate their risk and consider investing in flood insurance. A lender retains the prerogative to require flood insurance.
Although FEMA may issue an LFD to remove a structure(s) from the SFHA, it is the lending institution's prerogative to require flood insurance, as a condition of a loan, if it deems such action appropriate. Historically, about 25% of all flood claims occur in areas outside of the SFHA.
If the lending institution agrees to waive the flood insurance purchase requirement for a structure, the applicant is eligible for a full refund of the premium paid for the current policy year, provided that no claim is pending or has been paid on the policy in question during the same policy year. If the applicant has been required to renew his or her policy during a period when a revised NFIP map was being printed, the premium will be refunded for an additional year. To initiate processing of the refund, the applicant should provide the LOMC and evidence of the waiver of the flood insurance requirement from the lending institution to the insurance agent or broker who sold the policy.
To qualify for a CLOMA, CLOMR-F or CLOMR, the proposed project must meet the same criteria as those required for a LOMA or LOMR-F. After construction has been completed or fill has been placed, certified as-built information must be submitted to FEMA for a LOMA or LOMR-F to be issued. The NFIP regulations do not require that a CLOMA, CLOMR-F or CLOMR be requested and issued for a proposed project. However, check with local community officials to see if they are required by your locality.
Applicants should note that a CLOMA, CLOMR-F or CLOMR does not remove the mandatory purchase of flood insurance requirements; it merely provides comments on the proposed plan and does not revise or amend the FIRM. Once the project has been completed, another application will have to be submitted with the as built conditions to receive a LOMA or a LOMR-F, which in turn removes the federal requirement for mandatory purchase of flood insurance for mortgage holders. It also does not relieve federal agencies of the need to comply in carrying out their responsibilities for providing federally undertaken, financed, or assisted construction and improvements or regulating and licensing activities in accordance with the provisions set forth by Executive Order 11988 (https://www.fema.gov/glossary/executive-order-11988-floodplain-management).
REVISIONS |
Completing the MT-2 Revisions Application |
Once an application and all necessary data are received and applicable payments have been approved, FEMA will notify the applicant of the determination electronically within 90 days of the date of receipt of all required data. However, even though a LOMC may waive the federal requirement for flood insurance, property owners should still evaluate their risk and consider investing in flood insurance. A lender retains the prerogative to require flood insurance.
Additional Documents Required for MT-2 |
Additional documents may be required for the MT-2 application. Not all documents listed herein will be required to submit an MT-2 application:
Applicants must also provide documentation of Community and/or State review of the revision. Additionally, a licensed professional engineer and/or land surveyor should have a current license in the State where the affected communities are located. While the individual signing the form is not required to obtain the supporting data or performed the analyses, they must have supervised and reviewed the work.
The Riverine Hydrology & Hydraulics Form provides basic information on the scope and methodology of hydrologic and/or hydraulic analyses that are prepared in support of the revision request. This form should be used for revision requests that involve new or revised hydrologic and/or hydraulic analyses of rivers, streams, ponds, or small lakes. Nearly all MT-2 requests will require such analyses. A certified topographic work map must also be submitted.
It is important to note that the boundaries of the existing or proposed conditions floodplains and regulatory floodway to be shown on the revised FIRM and/or FBFM must tie-in with the effective floodplain and regulatory flood boundaries. Requesters must also attached a copy of the current FIRM annotated to show the boundaries of the revised 1%-and 0.2%-annual-chance floodplains and regulatory floodway that tie-in with the boundaries of the effective 1%-and 0.2%-annual-chance floodplain and regulatory floodway at the upstream and downstream limits of the area on revision.
The Riverine Structures Form provides the basic information regarding hydraulic structures constructed in the stream channel or floodplain. This form should be used for revision requests that involve new or proposed channelization, bridges/culverts, dams/basins, and/or levees/floodwalls.
Requesters should only complete the sections of the form that are applicable to the revision request. A separate form should be used for each flooding source that has structures involved in the revision request. This form is not required for existing structures that are included in the hydraulic model for the effective FIRM.
The Coastal Analysis Form provides the basic information on the scope and methodology of coastal analyses that are prepared in support of the revision request.This form should be used for any revision requests that involve new or revised coastal analyses. The information requested on the Coastal Analysis Form is intended to document the steps taken by the requester in the process of preparing the revised models or analyses and the resulting revised Flood Insurance Study (FIS).
A certified topographic map must also be submitted. It is important to note that the existing or proposed conditions floodplain boundaries to be shown on a revised FIRM must tie-in with the effective floodplain boundaries. Requesters must also attached a copy of the current FIRM annotated to show the revised 1%-annual-chance floodplain boundaries that tie-in with effective 1%-annual-chance floodplain boundaries along the entire context of the area of the revision.
The Coastal Structures Form provides the basic information regarding hydraulic structures constructed along the coast. This form should be used for revision requests that involve new or proposed levees/dikes, breakwaters, bulkheads, seawalls, and/or revetments located along the coast. If the coastal structure is a levee/floodwall, the requester must also complete the Levee/Floodwall System section of the Riverine Structure Form (Form 3) in addition to the Coastal Structures Form. When the Coastal Structures Form is submitted, the Coastal Analysis Form (Form 4) must also be submitted.
The Alluvial Fan Form is required for revision requests involving alluvial fans. The purpose of this form is to ensure that a structural flood control measure in areas subject to alluvial fan flooding is designed and/or constructed to provide protection from the % annual chance flood, in compliance with the NFIP before it is recognized on an NFIP map.
Elevating a parcel of land or a structure by fill or other means will not serve as a basis for removing areas subject to alluvial fan flooding from an area of special flood hazards. Complete engineering analyses must be submitted in support of each section of the Alluvial Fan Flooding Form. Additionally, it may be necessary to complete other forms relating to specific flood control measures, such as levees/floodwalls, channelization, or dams.
With the revision request, the requester must also submit a certified topographic map showing the information indicated in the Mapping Requirements section of the Alluvial Fan Flooding Form. A copy of the current FIRM annotated to show the revised 1% annual chance floodplain boundaries must also be submitted.
Payment Information |
A LOMA request is free of charge. The current fees for review and processing of LOMR-Fs, CLOMAs, CLOMR-Fs, CLOMRs, and LOMR requests may be obtained from FEMA's Internet site https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps/change-your-flood-zone/status/flood-map-related-fees or by calling FEMA?s Map Information eXchange (FMIX) at 1 -877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627). Payment must be in the form of a credit card or E-Check. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are accepted credit cards. Payment by E-Check requires approximately three business days to process. FEMA will generate a case number and begin to review requests once payment has been approved.
After Completing the Online LOMC Process |
Although FEMA may issue a determination removing a structure from the SFHA it is the lending institution's prerogative to require flood insurance, as a condition of a loan, if it deems such action appropriate. Historically, about 25% of all flood claims occur in areas outside of the SFHA.
If the lending institution agrees to waive the flood insurance purchase requirement for a structure, the applicant is eligible for a full refund of the premium paid for the current policy year, provided that no claim is pending or has been paid on the policy in question during the same policy year. If the applicant has been required to renew his or her policy during a period when a revised NFIP map was being printed, the premium will be refunded for an additional year. To initiate processing of the refund, the applicant should provide the LOMC and evidence of the waiver of the flood insurance requirement from the lending institution to the insurance agent or broker who sold the policy.