Florida BFE & Freeboard Requirements Explained

Freeboard is the additional elevation above the BFE required by the local jurisdiction. Most Florida counties require 1–2 feet of freeboard above the BFE for new construction. Some counties require more freeboard in VE zones or for certain building types. Freeboard provides a safety margin above the BFE and reduces flood insurance premiums through the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS). Use our ElevationCalc FL calculator to find the BFE and freeboard requirements for your Florida property.

The lowest floor elevation (LFE) is the minimum elevation for the lowest floor of a building in a flood zone. In AE zones, the LFE is the BFE plus the required freeboard. In VE zones, the LFE is the BFE plus the required freeboard, and the lowest floor must be the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member (not the top of the slab). Pineland Engineering designs flood zone buildings to meet the LFE requirements and prepares elevation certificates for completed buildings.