Existing structures that are threatened with coastal flooding or erosion often can be moved up. If you are located in a flood zone, you may be required by your town’s floodplain management ordinance to have the lowest structural part of your house be a minimum of one foot above the base flood elevation (this is typically the minimum standard).

If your structure is older and has been flooded and does not meet current standards, or any time you are doing substantial improvements to your structure, consider the cost of elevating the structure using a flow-through foundation or a pile foundation, especially if structure improvements meet or exceed 50% of the value of the structure.

Flow-through foundations are typically block or poured cement foundations with adequate spacing for floodwaters to flow through the foundation without damaging the supports. These structures are acceptable in the A-zone areas of back dune environments that are not considered to be Erosion Hazard Areas.	Pile foundations are typically used in more active flooding areas along open ocean coastlines, and provide much more open space for floodwaters to travel through. Piles are required in the frontal dune and in areas of the back dune classified as Erosion Hazard Areas.

The concept behind both these foundation types is that water, sediment, and debris can travel through the foundation, thus not applying significant pressure and lateral force to the foundation which can cause structural failure. Both applications can significantly reduce potential flood damage to a structure.

You will likely need a permit from your local municipality, in addition to Maine DEP, to elevate your structure. Federal permits from the US Army Corps of Engineers and US EPA may be required if impacts to navigable waters or discharges into waters of the United States occurs. Check with your local Code Enforcement Office or the Maine DEP for more information.

Many of the state requirements regarding elevation of structures, including a review of techniques, are outlined in Chapter 5 of the Maine Floodplain Management Handbook. Your town may have additional requirements that meet or exceed minimum state standards. Contact your local Code Enforcement Officer for more information. You may also want to review the FEMA Coastal Construction Manual and the FEMA Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheets.  The Construction Manual is available as a CD or in print copy by calling FEMA Publications Distribution Facility at 1-800-480-2520, and should also be available for review at your local town office or public library.

If you consider elevating your structure, think about making other improvements to make your home more storm and flood resilient. Also, consider elevating your structure over and above the elevation required by your floodplain ordinance, in order to take into account expected rates of sea-level rise and higher future floodplain elevations.