Quick answer
Florida homeowners insurance covers your house, belongings and personal liability. Florida law doesn't require it, but nearly every mortgage lender does. Price and eligibility turn on roof age, a wind mitigation inspection, the hurricane deductible you choose and, for older homes, a 4-point inspection. We compare private Florida insurers first, and quote Citizens when no private insurer will write the home or every private offer is more than 20% above the Citizens premium.
Coverage Overview
Florida's homeowners insurance market runs on details that don't come up in most other states: wind mitigation credits, percentage-based hurricane deductibles, and roof-age underwriting rules that can make or break your eligibility with a given carrier.
What shapes your Florida homeowners premium
- A wind mitigation inspection documenting your roof shape, roof-to-wall connections, opening protection, and roof covering - this can meaningfully lower your premium and some carriers require it
- Your hurricane deductible, which is usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage (Florida insurers must offer 2%, 5% and 10% options, and lower-valued homes can also choose $500) rather than a flat dollar amount, and applies separately from your regular deductible
- Roof age and condition - many Florida carriers restrict or decline roofs over a certain age, regardless of condition
- Distance to the coast and your county's wind zone
Carriers we compare
We shop your home across Florida-focused carriers including Universal Property & Casualty, Heritage, American Integrity, Slide, Florida Peninsula, Edison Insurance, One Alliance North America, Swyfft, Mangrove, Monarch National, and Trident Reciprocal Exchange, plus GeoVera for coastal and catastrophe-exposed properties, Southern Oak, Patriot Select, and Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (the state's insurer of last resort) when the private market won't write your risk.
Homeowners Insurance FAQ
Why do so many Florida carriers require a wind mitigation inspection?
Because the specific construction features it documents - roof shape, secondary water resistance, roof-deck attachment, opening protection - are proven to reduce hurricane damage, and Florida law requires carriers to offer premium credits for them. Skipping the inspection usually means paying for risk you've already mitigated.
What's a hurricane deductible, and how is it different from my regular deductible?
It's a separate deductible, usually 2%, 5% or 10% of your dwelling coverage, that applies to hurricane damage during the period Florida law defines: from when the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for any part of Florida until 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or warning for Florida ends. Your regular, flat-dollar deductible still applies to non-hurricane claims like a kitchen fire or a burst pipe.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage?
Usually not. A standard homeowners policy excludes flood, so flood coverage usually means a separate policy through the NFIP or a private flood insurer. Some insurers offer flood as an endorsement to an HO-3 policy, so ask which option fits your home.
Why did my carrier non-renew me or raise my rate significantly?
Florida's homeowners market has gone through real volatility from hurricane losses and reinsurance costs; carriers have adjusted underwriting guidelines (like roof age limits) and pulled back in some coastal areas. Comparing multiple carriers each renewal, rather than auto-renewing with one, is often the only way to catch this before it becomes a surprise.
What it usually doesn't cover
- Flood from rising water, storm surge or overflowing lakes. It usually takes a separate flood policy; some insurers offer a flood endorsement. Flood insurance →
- Wear and tear, gradual leaks, mold that builds over time and termite damage.
- Sinkhole loss, unless you buy sinkhole coverage. Every Florida policy covers the narrower catastrophic ground cover collapse.
- Liability above your policy limit, such as a serious injury claim. Umbrella insurance →
- Business property and business liability beyond small limits. Businessowners policy →
Every policy is different. Your declarations page and policy form decide what's covered.
Have this ready before you ask for a quote
- Your current declarations page, if you have a policy now
- Year the roof was replaced, and the permit if you have it
- A wind mitigation report (form OIR-B1-1802), if one has been done
- A 4-point inspection for older homes (many carriers ask at about 30 years)
- Any claims in the last five years
- Your mortgage company's name and loan number, if you're buying or refinancing
Don't have everything? Send what you have; an agent will ask for the rest. Coverage can't be bound or changed through this website.