Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)

What is a LOMA?

A Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) is an official determination from FEMA stating that a specific property has been removed from the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as shown on the current Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). It confirms the property’s location in relation to the mapped floodplain.

If your property is shown in a high-risk flood zone on FEMA’s map but you believe it is actually above the base flood elevation (BFE), a LOMA can provide official documentation to correct the map. This can help remove a lender’s mandatory flood insurance requirement.

WTGs LOMA (Letter of Map Amendment) services can help officially remove a property from a high-risk FEMA flood zone designation.

What information is required to apply for a LOMA?

You’ll typically need:

• A completed FEMA MT-1 application form

• Property deed or legal description

• Elevation data, usually from a certified Elevation Certificate prepared by a licensed surveyor or engineer

• A copy of the current FEMA flood map for your area.

With WTG’s LOMA services, our team can secure most of these items, package and submit the LOMA to FEMA, and manage any followup - saving you time and confusion.

What is the difference between a LOMC, LOMA and LOMR?

A LOMC, or Letter of Map Change, is the general term FEMA uses for any official change to a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). It’s the umbrella category that includes both LOMAs and LOMRs.

A LOMA, or Letter of Map Amendment, is issued when a property owner can show that their home or land was incorrectly placed in a Special Flood Hazard Area. It usually applies when the ground elevation is equal to or higher than the Base Flood Elevation, meaning the flood risk is overestimated. A LOMA corrects the map without requiring any physical changes to the property or floodplain.

A LOMR (Letter of Map Revision) is FEMA's modification to an effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), or Flood Boundary and Floodway Map (FBFM), or both. LOMR’s are generally based on the implementation of physical measures that affect the hydrologic or hydraulic characteristics of a flooding source and thus result in the modification of the existing regulatory floodway, the effective Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), or the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

What’s the difference between a LOMA vs eLOMA offered by WTG?

A LOMA (Letter of Map Amendment) is the formal FEMA-issued document that officially changes a property’s flood zone designation when it’s proven that the property was incorrectly placed in a Special Flood Hazard Area. The process can take several weeks because FEMA reviews the application directly.

An eLOMA (electronic Letter of Map Amendment) is a faster, streamlined version that certain licensed professionals—such as the WTG team, surveyors and engineers—can process online through FEMA’s eLOMA system. Instead of FEMA reviewing all the details first, the qualified professional certifies the data, and the approval is issued instantly in most cases.

eLOMA turnaround is more successful in straightforward cases that meet FEMA’s specific eligibility requirements. If there’s an audit of some kind, the process will revert back to the LOMA process for a deeper look by FEMA’s team.

Will a LOMA remove my requirement for flood insurance?

If the LOMA shows your property is outside the SFHA, your lender may remove the federal requirement for flood insurance. However, lenders can still require coverage at their discretion, and FEMA still recommends flood insurance for most properties.

Can I appeal if my LOMA is denied?

Yes. If FEMA denies your request, you can submit additional evidence or updated elevation data for reconsideration, typically within 90 days of the decision.