Letter of Map Amendment
For structures or land located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA, or "100-year floodplain"), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides several options for removing the property from the flood zone, which also eliminates the federal mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement. Collectively, these options are known as "Letters of Map Change" (LOMC), the most common of which is the "Letter of Map Amendment" (LOMA).
While a property owner may need a full elevation survey to obtain a LOMA, two options should be considered if the owner has clear visual evidence that the structure is outside the SFHA.
The first option should always be to contact the lender and ask what documentation was used to make the determination. Most lenders hire a flood zone determination company to do this work. Companies which belong to the National Flood Determination Association (NFDA) adhere to a code of ethics that requires them to determine if the insurable structure is in the SFHA. However some firms only determine whether any portion of the lot is in the SFHA. In those cases, the structure may actually be well outside the SFHA, but the lender will require flood insurance as a condition of making the loan unless you provide clear visual evidence to prove otherwise.
In some cases, even if you provide clear evidence, the lender will still require a letter from FEMA verifying the information you provided. In such cases, you should apply for a LOMA and provide the visual evidence demonstrating that your property is "out as shown."
LOMA-OAS is a determination made by FEMA for the property and/or buildings as to whether it is located within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Since no technical data is required, the property owner can apply for this free service directly to FEMA.
