SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DETERMINATIONS
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/substantial-damage-determinations-0] 

Release Date: 
Oct 24, 2022 

If the cost of repairing the structure (to its condition before
Hurricane Ian) is 50 percent or more of its pre-disaster market value,
the house or building is considered “substantially damaged.” Land
value is not a consideration; the determination is based strictly on
the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.

FEMA does not make substantial damage determinations; the
determination is made by a community’s building official or
floodplain manager.

Repairing a structure in a floodplain requires a permit. In addition,
the “substantially damaged” structure must be brought into
compliance with the Florida Building Code and the community’s
floodplain management regulations. Options include floodproofing a
non-residential structure, relocating the structure outside the
floodplain, elevating the structure to a height determined by local
community officials, or demolishing the structure.

Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage is a paid coverage under
the insured’s NFIP flood policy. Policyholders of structures
substantially damaged by flood, located in the Special Flood Hazard
Areas (SFHA), can receive up to $30,000 through ICC to help meet the
cost of complying with building codes and ordinances.

For more information on general flood insurance questions, contact the
NFIP AT 800- 427-4661, or call your insurance agent. You can also
email FloodSmart@dhs.gov to request information in a language other
than English. Information also is available at FEMA.gov
[https://www.fema.gov/] and FloodSmart.gov
[https://www.FloodSmart.gov].