Hurricane / named storm
Florida statute requires named-storm deductibles (separate from AOP). They re-set once per calendar year — but each named event triggers it.
Florida homeowners
Florida homeowners insurance, decoded.
Hurricane deductibles, roof-age caps, and Citizens vs. private-market trade-offs. Upload your declarations page and we'll surface every line item that decides what gets paid after the next storm.
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2–10%
Named-storm deductible
Florida-mandated. Most policies sit at 2% or 5%.
$6,000+
Avg. FL annual premium
Highest in the country (FL OIR 2024)
30+
FL carrier insolvencies since 2020
Driving most homeowners to Citizens or surplus lines
Local perils
The perils that shape every Florida policy.
These are the risks Florida carriers price into your premium — and the ones that decide most claims.
Wind & tornado
Non-named wind events fall under the wind/hail or AOP deductible. Read the trigger language carefully.
Sinkhole / catastrophic ground collapse
Catastrophic ground collapse is mandatory; broader sinkhole coverage is optional in most of the state.
Flood (NFIP)
Standard homeowners excludes flood. NFIP or private flood is separate — and storm surge from a hurricane is flood, not wind.
Why Florida is different.
Florida is the only state where hurricane deductibles are mandatory by statute, with very specific calendar-year reset rules and named-storm trigger language. Get the trigger wrong and you may pay a 5% deductible on a storm you didn't think qualified.
Roof-age limitations are now common — many carriers won't write a roof over 15 years, or write it only at ACV. The 2022 reforms (SB 4-A, SB 2-A) changed assignment of benefits, attorney fees, and dispute timelines.
Anti-concurrent causation clauses are standard in coastal policies — meaning a claim caused by both wind and water (storm surge + hurricane wind) can be denied entirely.
Florida audit
The 4 things we check on every Florida policy.
These line items quietly cost Florida homeowners the most after a claim. Our AI reviewer flags each one against your declarations page.
Named-storm deductible misunderstanding
Many homeowners think it resets per storm — it resets per calendar year but applies per named storm. Two hurricanes in one year = one deductible, but per-occurrence policies exist too.
Roof-age limitation / ACV-only roofs
Roofs over 10–15 years often default to ACV. The gap on a $30k roof can be $20k.
No flood insurance
Storm surge is flood. If you only have homeowners, a hurricane that floods your first floor is mostly uncovered.
Anti-concurrent causation
If both wind and water contributed, the carrier may deny the whole claim. Read the exclusion language.
Florida homeowners insurance: FAQ
Why is homeowners insurance so expensive in Florida?
Hurricane risk, litigation exposure (now somewhat reformed), reinsurance costs, and 30+ carrier insolvencies since 2020 have all pushed FL premiums to the highest in the U.S.
What is the hurricane deductible in Florida?
Set by statute as a percentage of dwelling coverage — usually 2%, 5%, or 10%. Triggered when the National Hurricane Center names a storm that causes the damage. Calendar-year reset.
Should I use Citizens or a private carrier?
Citizens is the state-backed insurer of last resort. It's often cheaper but coverage is narrower, and you may be forced to a private carrier if a comparable private offer comes within 20% of the Citizens premium.
What is a 'roof deductible' in Florida?
A newer endorsement type (post-2022 reforms) where the deductible for roof-only claims can be set separately — sometimes higher than the AOP deductible — in exchange for premium relief.
General information, not legal or financial advice. Coverage, carriers and discounts vary by Florida jurisdiction.