Insurance
Homeowners Insurance in Florida
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
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The short answer
Florida homeowners paid about $2,677 a year on average in 2022. That's the highest in the country. Hurricanes are the main reason.
Your hurricane deductible is one of the most important numbers in your policy. So is your roof's age. And if private insurers won't cover you, Citizens Property Insurance is the state's backup option.
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Why homeowners insurance in Florida costs so much
Florida gets more hurricanes than any other state. Insurers have to pay for huge storms that hit thousands of homes at once. They also buy their own backup coverage, called reinsurance, and that cost gets passed on to you.
Your price may depend on:
- How close you are to the coast. Homes near the water usually cost more to insure.
- Your roof. Its age, shape, and how it's attached all matter.
- Storm-proofing. Shutters, impact windows, and strong roof straps can lower your price.
- Your deductibles. A higher hurricane deductible lowers your price but raises what you pay after a storm.
- Your home's age and building code. Homes built to newer Florida codes usually hold up better in storms.
Not a quote or an offer. Your price comes from the insurance company.
How the Florida hurricane deductible works
A deductible is the part of a claim you pay before insurance pays. In Florida, a hurricane has its own deductible. It's often a percentage of your home's coverage, not a flat dollar amount.
Florida insurers must offer a hurricane deductible of $500, 2%, 5%, or 10% of your home's coverage. One exception: if your home is insured for $250,000 or more, the insurer doesn't have to offer the $500 choice.
On a $300,000 home, here's what the percentage choices mean:
- 2%: you pay the first $6,000
- 5%: you pay the first $15,000
- 10%: you pay the first $30,000
The hurricane deductible applies once per calendar year, not once per storm. If a second hurricane hits the same year and you're still with the same insurer, you pay whichever is bigger: what's left of your hurricane deductible, or your regular deductible. If you switched to an unrelated insurer, the full deductible applies again.
Your roof and your insurance
Florida law protects owners of newer roofs. An insurer can't refuse to write or renew your policy just because your roof is under 15 years old.
If your roof is 15 years or older, you can have it inspected by an approved inspector, at your cost. If the inspection shows the roof has at least 5 more years of useful life, the insurer can't refuse you just because of the roof's age.
Thinking about a new roof? Florida has its own rules for roofers. See hiring a roofer in Florida.
Wind mitigation credits
Florida insurers must offer discounts for features that help your home stand up to wind. These may include:
- Hurricane straps or clips that tie the roof to the walls
- Impact windows or storm shutters
- A roof deck nailed down with stronger nails
- A roof shape that handles wind better, like a hip roof
A wind mitigation inspection proves you have these features. A licensed inspector fills out a state form, and you send it to your insurer. If you've never had one, it may pay for itself.
Citizens Property Insurance
Citizens Property Insurance is Florida's insurer of last resort. The state created it for people who can't find coverage from a private company at a fair price.
Who can get Citizens. You can usually apply if no private insurer will offer you coverage. You can also apply if the private offers you get are more than 20% higher than what Citizens would charge for similar coverage.
You may be moved out. If a private insurer offers you a policy that costs no more than 20% above your Citizens renewal price, you can lose your place with Citizens. Citizens also runs a program where private insurers can offer to take over policies.
Flood insurance is becoming required. Most Citizens homeowners policies that cover wind damage must also have flood insurance by January 1, 2027. The rule has been phased in since 2023. Homes in high-risk flood zones were first.
The catch: Citizens isn't always the cheapest choice, and its coverage can be more limited. Compare private offers each year before you renew.
Florida claim deadlines: yours and your insurer's
Florida tightened its claim rules in recent years. Both sides now have a clock.
Your deadline. You have 1 year from the date of loss to report a new or reopened claim. For a supplemental claim, which is a request for more money on a claim you already filed, you have 18 months. After a storm, the date of loss is the date the weather event happened, as confirmed by NOAA, not the day you noticed the damage. So don't wait to report roof damage after a hurricane.
Your insurer's deadlines. Under Florida law, your insurer must:
- Acknowledge your messages about a claim within 7 days
- Start investigating within 7 days of getting your proof of loss
- Send you its estimate within 7 days after its adjuster finishes it
- Pay or deny your claim within 60 days of getting notice of it
If your insurer misses these, you can contact the Florida Department of Financial Services for help.
Do you need flood insurance in Florida?
Homeowners insurance doesn't cover flood damage. That includes storm surge from a hurricane. Much of Florida floods, including areas outside high-risk zones.
Your mortgage lender may require flood insurance if you live in a high-risk zone. Even if it isn't required, it's worth pricing out. See flood insurance.
What to ask before you choose
- "Which hurricane deductible am I choosing, in dollars?"
- "What wind mitigation credits am I getting?" If you've never had an inspection, ask about one.
- "Do I need flood insurance?" Home insurance doesn't cover floods.
- "Will my roof's age affect my coverage?"
- "Is my home covered at replacement cost?" That means the cost to rebuild, not what the house could sell for. See how much homeowners insurance you need.
The catch: a 5% or 10% hurricane deductible lowers your price. But it could mean paying $15,000 to $30,000 yourself after a storm on a $300,000 home. Pick an amount you could actually pay.
Explore by state
Related services
Driving in Florida? See Florida auto insurance. Own a condo? See condo insurance. Renting out a home? See landlord insurance.
More home insurance guides: Homeowners insurance cost · Condo insurance · Renters insurance · Landlord insurance · Mobile home insurance · Flood insurance · Umbrella insurance · How much homeowners insurance you need · Renters insurance basics · How to get renters insurance · All insurance
Homeowners insurance in more states: Michigan · Arizona · North Carolina · Pennsylvania · Illinois · Massachusetts · New Jersey · Indiana · Colorado · Alabama · Louisiana · South Carolina · Virginia · Maryland · Oklahoma · Wisconsin · Utah · Maine · Minnesota · Arkansas · Hawaii · Missouri · Tennessee
More Florida guides: Florida car insurance · Florida roofing laws · Florida home equity loans · Florida cash-out refinance · Miami car insurance
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Related services
Renters Insurance
Compare renters coverage options for an apartment or rental home.
Condo Insurance
Explore condo coverage options alongside your association policy.
Landlord Insurance
Explore coverage options for a property you rent out.
Flood Insurance
Explore flood coverage, which standard home policies usually exclude.
Sources
- NAIC homeowners report (2022 data), via Insurance Information Institute
- Florida Department of Financial Services, Florida's hurricane deductible
- Florida Statutes §627.7011 (roof age)
- Florida Statutes §627.0629 (wind mitigation discounts)
- Citizens Property Insurance, Flood insurance requirement
- Citizens Property Insurance, New-business eligibility rule increases to 20%
- Florida Statutes §627.70132, Notice of property insurance claim
- Florida Statutes §627.70131, Insurer's duty to acknowledge communications and pay or deny claims