SURVEY AND ELEVATION CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Required for all additions and New Construction.
Survey and elevation certification required for new construction or substantial improvements in
Surf City and the ETJ. Surf City Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, Building Regulations,
and Zoning Code require the following.
Before a building permit can be issued, a preliminary elevation certificate must be submitted if
the property is in a flood zone. It will indicate Base Flood Elevation, Community Panel number,
flood zone, adjacent grade elevation, and required elevation of any structure or equipment to be
placed on the lot.
Before a building permit can be issued, a preliminary survey of the lot must be submitted. The
survey has to be dated no more than 180 days prior to being submitted. The following
information must be on the survey.
1- Physical location and dimensions of the existing and proposed structure(s), driveways
(denote pervious if required by ordinance), decks, docks, and other accessory structures.
Show distance from EACH property line.
2- All yard set backs. Draw on survey. A note or reference will not be accepted.
3- All corner stakes
4- Any Areas of Environmental Concern (Federal and state wetlands, 30’ buffer and 75’ AEC
on Estuarine Shorelines; vegetation line, 60’ setback, 255’ AEC in Ocean Hazard etc.) In
Estuarine Shoreline AEC provide square feet of impervious surface within 75’ of high water;
use drip line of structures for this calculation.
5- Total square footage of lot.
6- Zoning district
7- All rights of way or easements.
8- Adjoining property owners.
9- Denote trees if required by ordinance.
10- Show driveway to edge of pavement with width of driveway shown at property line
An elevation certificate or survey that does not contain ALL of the required information will not
be accepted.
A foundation survey is required once piling or other foundation is installed. This survey must
show all of the above information and the actual location and dimensions of the foundation as
built. This foundation survey must be submitted BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY
FURTHER CONSTRUCTION. Failure to do so will result in a STOP WORK ORDER being
issued.
Within 21 days of establishing floor level, an under construction elevation certificate
#2
must be
submitted to indicate actual floor elevation. Failure to do so will result in a STOP WORK
ORDER issued.
Prior to issuing a Certificate of Occupancy, a final elevation certificate
#3
must be submitted. This
certificate will indicate finished construction and show elevations of all equipment, number of
flood vents, etc. An “As Built” survey is also required. It must include name and address of
owner, physical address of property, exact boundary lines and minimum setback lines and
percentage of lot covered by roofed structure(s). All buildings and other structures on lot must be
shown including eaves, utility platforms, decks and stairs. Driveways and walkways must denote
materials used. Decks must be labeled as roofed or open. All of these documents must be signed
by and bear the seal of a licensed NC surveyor.