The Florida Homeowners Insurance Guide

Florida homeowners insurance, explained by people who work in this market every day

Florida is not like other states. Hurricanes, roof age, inspections, Citizens and flood rules all change what a policy covers and what it costs. This guide walks through each piece and links to a deeper guide on every topic.

Prefer to talk? Call (954) 475-8886

Written and reviewed by licensed Florida insurance advisors at Allied Insurance Group · Updated October 2026

4.8★★★★★Google Rating · 750+ Reviews

Since 2006 · serving Florida homeowners

Independent · agency, not tied to one insurer

Multiple · A-rated carriers

Licensed · Florida advisors

4.8 ★ · Google rating · 750+ reviews

Executive summary

The short version

A Florida homeowners policy covers your house, other structures, belongings, extra living costs and personal liability against the causes of loss named in the policy. Three things make Florida different: a separate hurricane deductible, underwriting that leans heavily on roof age and inspections, and the fact that flood is not covered by a homeowners policy.

Price and availability depend on the home (age, roof, construction, location, wind mitigation features), on your claims history and on which carriers are writing in your area. Because each carrier has different rules, comparing several is the most reliable way to find the right fit.

What Florida homeowners insurance covers

Short answer: A standard policy bundles six coverages: dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, personal liability and medical payments to others.

Coverage What it protects Florida note
A · Dwelling The house itself and attached structures. Set to the cost to rebuild, not the market value or the mortgage balance.
B · Other structures Fences, sheds, detached garages, screen enclosures on some policies. Screen enclosures and carports are often limited or excluded for hurricane; check the endorsements.
C · Personal property Furniture, clothing, electronics and other belongings. Ask whether contents are settled at replacement cost or actual cash value.
D · Loss of use Extra living expenses if a covered loss makes the home unlivable. Important after a hurricane, when rentals are scarce.
E · Personal liability Injuries or property damage you are legally responsible for. Dog breeds, pools and trampolines can affect eligibility.
F · Medical payments Small medical bills for guests injured on your property, regardless of fault. Usually a low limit; it is not health insurance.

The most common form for an owner-occupied house is the HO-3, which covers the dwelling for all causes of loss except those the policy excludes, and belongings for a list of named perils. Condo unit owners use an HO-6 and landlords typically use a dwelling fire (DP) form. The form matters less than the endorsements and exclusions attached to it, so read the declarations page and the endorsement list first.

What a Florida homeowners policy does not cover

Short answer: Flood, wear and tear, long-term leaks and earth movement are the big ones. Several others are limited unless you add an endorsement.

Typically covered

  • Wind and hurricane damage (subject to the hurricane deductible)
  • Fire, lightning and smoke
  • Sudden and accidental water discharge, such as a burst pipe
  • Theft and vandalism
  • Liability claims made against you
  • Catastrophic ground cover collapse, as defined by Florida law
Typically excluded or limited

  • Flood and storm surge
  • Wear, tear, rot and deferred maintenance
  • Leaks that continue over weeks or months
  • Sewer or drain backup, unless endorsed
  • Mold beyond a set sub-limit
  • Sinkhole loss, unless you buy the optional coverage

Two of these catch Florida homeowners most often. Water that rises from outside is flood and belongs on a flood policy. Water that leaks slowly from inside is usually treated as a maintenance issue. Our water damage guide explains where insurers draw those lines.

Deductibles: hurricane vs. all other perils

Short answer: Florida policies carry a hurricane deductible, usually a percentage of the dwelling limit, and a separate flat deductible for everything else.

Florida insurers offer hurricane deductible options of $500, 2 percent, 5 percent or 10 percent of the dwelling limit, with the available options depending on the home’s insured value. The hurricane deductible applies only to damage from a storm the National Hurricane Center has declared a hurricane, during a window that opens when a hurricane warning is issued for any part of Florida and closes 72 hours after the last watch or warning ends.

Illustration: hurricane deductible on a $400,000 dwelling limit

2% deductible$8,000 out of pocket
5% deductible$20,000 out of pocket
10% deductible$40,000 out of pocket
All other perils (example)$2,500 flat

Simple arithmetic on an example dwelling limit. Your deductible is shown as a dollar amount on your declarations page.

A lower deductible raises the premium and a higher one lowers it. The right choice is the largest amount you could pay after a storm without real hardship. Our hurricane deductible guide covers the once-per-calendar-year rule and what happens with a second storm.

What affects the price of homeowners insurance in Florida

Short answer: The home’s roof, age, construction, location and wind mitigation features drive most of the premium, followed by coverage limits, deductibles and claims history.

The biggest pricing factors

Roof age and materialThe single most scrutinized feature of a Florida home.
Wind mitigation featuresRoof shape, straps or clips, deck attachment and opening protection can earn credits.
LocationDistance to the coast, county and local building code history.
Year built and constructionNewer homes built to current code generally rate better.
Plumbing, electrical and HVACOlder systems can limit carriers or coverage.
Claims and coverage choicesPrior claims, limits, deductibles and endorsements.

You cannot change where the house sits, but you can document what it has. A current wind mitigation report is the most common source of savings we see, and a roof replacement can open markets that were closed to the home. See roof age and insurance for how the 15-year rule works.

The inspections Florida insurers ask for

Short answer: Most older Florida homes need a four-point inspection to get coverage, and a wind mitigation inspection to get credits.

Inspection What it covers Why it matters
Four-point inspection Roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC. Often required on older homes before a carrier will offer or renew a policy.
Wind mitigation inspection Roof covering, deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections, roof shape, water barrier and opening protection. Florida law requires insurers to offer credits for verified features. The report is generally valid for five years.
Roof inspection or certification Condition and remaining useful life of the roof. Protects a 15-year-or-older roof from an age-only refusal when it shows 5 or more years of life remaining.

Private carriers vs. Citizens

Short answer: Citizens Property Insurance is Florida’s state-created insurer of last resort. You generally qualify only when private coverage is unavailable or costs more than 20 percent above a comparable Citizens premium.

Citizens is not designed to be the cheapest option, and its policyholders can face surcharges after a major storm season. It also requires flood coverage on a phased schedule that reaches all remaining personal residential policies that include wind on January 1, 2027. If a private insurer offers to take over your Citizens policy at a premium within 20 percent of your Citizens renewal, you are generally no longer eligible to stay.

Read the full Citizens guide before you accept or decline a takeout offer.

How to compare Florida homeowners quotes

Short answer: Compare the same dwelling limit, the same deductibles and the same endorsements. A cheaper quote often just covers less.

  • Dwelling limit based on a current replacement cost estimate
  • Hurricane deductible and all-other-perils deductible, in dollars
  • Roof settlement: replacement cost, actual cash value or a payment schedule
  • Water damage: full coverage, limited, or excluded
  • Ordinance or law coverage percentage
  • Screen enclosure and carport coverage for hurricane
  • Personal property settlement basis
  • The carrier’s financial strength rating and claims reputation
How Allied compares options for you

Tell us about the homeAddress, year built, roof date, updates and any inspection reports.
We check eligibilityWe match the home against multiple carriers’ current guidelines.
You see options side by sideSame coverage, clear differences, plain language.
We stay with youRenewals, policy changes and claims assistance after the sale.

When to review your policy

Short answer: Review every year before renewal and any time the home changes: a new roof, a renovation, a new inspection or a non-renewal notice.

  • Your renewal premium went up and you are not sure why
  • You received a non-renewal or cancellation notice
  • You replaced the roof, windows, doors or shutters
  • You finished a renovation or addition that changes the rebuild cost
  • You received a Citizens takeout offer
  • You are buying a home and need proof of insurance for closing

If any of these apply, send us your declarations page for a free policy review. If you have damage right now, start with the claims guide.

Questions Florida homeowners ask us

Frequently asked questions

Florida law does not require it, but mortgage lenders do. If you have a mortgage, your lender will require coverage for at least the loan amount or the replacement cost, and flood insurance if the home is in a high-risk flood zone.

Hurricane exposure, the cost of reinsurance, roof and water claims, and rising rebuilding costs all push Florida premiums above most states. Individual prices then depend on the home’s roof, age, location and mitigation features.

A separate deductible that applies only to hurricane losses. Florida insurers offer $500, 2 percent, 5 percent or 10 percent of the dwelling limit, depending on the home’s insured value. See the hurricane deductible guide.

No. It applies only when the National Hurricane Center has declared the storm a hurricane, during the period that begins with a hurricane warning for any part of Florida and ends 72 hours after the last watch or warning is lifted. Other wind events fall under your all-other-perils deductible.

No. Flood, including storm surge, is excluded from homeowners policies. You need a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer. See the flood guide.

Yes, wind damage from a hurricane is covered under a standard Florida homeowners policy unless wind has been specifically excluded, subject to the hurricane deductible.

Enough to rebuild the home at today’s construction costs. That figure is different from the purchase price, the tax value or the mortgage balance. We run a replacement cost estimate as part of every quote.

Replacement cost pays to repair or replace without subtracting depreciation. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation, so older items and older roofs pay out less.

An inspection of the roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems that insurers commonly require on older homes. See the four-point inspection guide.

An inspection that documents features that help a home resist wind, recorded on Florida’s uniform mitigation form. Insurers must offer credits for verified features. See the wind mitigation guide.

Not solely because of age if the roof is under 15 years old. For older roofs you have the right to an inspection before a replacement is required. See roof age and insurance.

Florida’s state-created, not-for-profit insurer for property owners who cannot find coverage in the private market or whose private offers exceed the eligibility threshold. See the Citizens guide.

Coverage for the added cost of rebuilding to current building codes after a covered loss. In Florida it is typically offered at 25 percent or 50 percent of the dwelling limit, and it matters most on older homes.

Florida policies must cover catastrophic ground cover collapse, which has a narrow legal definition. Broader sinkhole loss coverage is optional, may require an inspection, and is not offered by every carrier in every area.

Usually only when the mold results from a covered water loss, and often up to a set sub-limit. Mold from humidity or long-term leaks is generally excluded.

Often they are limited or excluded unless you add coverage by endorsement. Check the endorsement list or ask us to review it.

Common reasons include a carrier-wide rate change, a higher dwelling limit from inflation adjustments, an expired wind mitigation report, an aging roof or a lost discount. A policy review will show which one applies.

Do not wait. Note the date coverage ends, gather your inspection reports and contact an independent agent so there is time to compare carriers before the deadline.

Review it every year before renewal and after any major change to the home. In Florida the list of carriers writing in a given area changes often.

An independent agency represents multiple insurance companies rather than one. Allied compares options from multiple A-rated carriers and recommends the one that fits your home.

With the address, roof date and any inspection reports in hand, we can usually start comparing options the same day. Homes that need new inspections take a little longer.

The Florida Insurance Guaranty Association steps in to handle covered claims of insolvent admitted insurers, up to limits set by law. Your agent helps you replace the policy quickly.

Only in a limited way. Business property and high-value items such as jewelry usually need an endorsement or a separate policy.

Keep reading

Related Florida homeowners guides

Roof Age & Insurance in FloridaRoof Age & Insurance in FloridaThe 15-year rule, inspections and roof settlements.Hurricane Deductibles GuideHurricane Deductibles GuideHow the deductible works, plus a storm-season checklist.Citizens Insurance in FloridaCitizens Insurance in FloridaEligibility, the 20% rule, takeouts and flood requirements.Florida Flood Insurance GuideFlorida Flood Insurance GuideWhy home policies exclude flood and how to cover it.Wind Mitigation GuideWind Mitigation GuideThe inspection form, the features and the credits.Four-Point Inspection GuideFour-Point Inspection GuideRoof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC: what insurers check.Water Damage Coverage GuideWater Damage Coverage GuideSudden leaks, slow leaks, flood and what is covered.Florida Homeowners Claims GuideFlorida Homeowners Claims GuideDeadlines, documentation and what insurers must do.

Looking for something else? Visit the Allied Answer Desk, browse Florida insurance by city, or go back to the Florida Homeowners Insurance Guide.

Why homeowners trust Allied

Independent, local and here after the sale.

Serving Florida since 2006Two decades helping Florida homeowners through hard and soft insurance markets.
Independent agencyWe work for you, not for one insurance company, and compare options side by side.
Multiple A-rated carriersAccess to multiple A-rated carriers, so one company’s rules do not decide your options.
Local expertiseBased in Hollywood, Florida. We work in the same market our clients live in.
Licensed advisorsYour questions are answered by licensed Florida insurance advisors.
4.8 on Google, 750+ reviewsRead what Florida homeowners say about working with us. See our reviews
★★★★★“Yunior was an exceptional agent. He showed me 3 different plans and guided me through the whole process.”Jubani Millares · Google
★★★★★“Cristina was very attentive and responded back to me quickly with my home insurance issue. Thank you so much.”Jose Diaz · Google
★★★★★“Ron is such a caring and understanding agent. He truly goes above and beyond for his clients.”Lovely Katherine · Google

Read more Google reviews · See the carriers we work with

Before you buy or renew, let us compare your options first.

Tell us about your home and a licensed Allied advisor will compare available Florida markets for you. No obligation.

Or call (954) 475-8886

This guide is general information for Florida homeowners, not legal advice and not a statement of coverage. Coverage, eligibility, deductibles and pricing depend on the insurer, the policy form and your property. Laws, Citizens rules and carrier guidelines change; confirm current details with a licensed advisor and read your policy. Allied Insurance Group, 6600 Taft Street #100, Hollywood, FL 33024 · (954) 475-8886.

CallGet My Home Quote