Is homeowners insurance required in Florida?
No, homeowners insurance is not required by law in Florida. However, in order to get a home loan, your mortgage lender will likely require you to obtain a certain amount of insurance coverage.
What does homeowners insurance cover in Florida?
Every policy is different, but home insurance policies in Florida typically come with several standard coverages.
- Dwelling (Coverage A). This coverage helps you pay for damage to your home from a covered event, such as fire, wind, lightning or hail.
- Other structures (Coverage B). This coverage is intended to help cover structures that aren’t connected to your home, like a fence or shed.
- Personal property (Coverage C). This coverage helps you repair or replace your personal belongings if they are stolen or damaged.
- Loss of use, or additional living expense coverage (Coverage D). This coverage can help you pay to stay somewhere else if your home is uninhabitable due to covered damage.
- Personal liability (Coverage E). This coverage helps pay for accidental property damage or injuries you cause through negligence.
Typical home insurance policies in Florida cover damage caused by events such as:
- Fire
- Vandalism and theft
- Lightning strikes
- Wind
- Hail
- Explosions
- Falling objects
- The weight of snow or ice
Flooding is not covered. However, special flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) may be available.
Farmers Flex Personal Home coverage in Florida
Beyond the basic coverages, Farmers Flex Personal Home offers a wide range of options that let you customize your policy, such as:
- Guaranteed Replacement Cost
- Water Backup and Sump Overflow
- Emergency Mortgage Assistance
- Declining Deductibles®
- Claim Forgiveness
How much does homeowners insurance generally cost in Florida?
The average premium for home insurance coverage in Florida is $2,165 per year1, according to a 2020 report (the most recent data available) by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). That’s more than the national average of $1,311 a year, according to same report. However, insurance costs in most states have changed since then. Also, the amount you pay may be different, depending on things like the value and age of your home, how much personal property you want to cover, what deductible you choose and risks specific to your area.
Florida home insurance discounts
Farmers® offers a variety of savings opportunities for eligible home insurance customers in Florida, including:
- Welcome Discount
- Home Buyer Discount
- Multi-Policy Discount
- Loyalty Discount
- Claim Free Discount
See more information and additional discounts that may be available in Florida.
Mockingbird
The mockingbird, Florida’s state bird for almost a century, may soon be replaced — if Floridians can agree on a successor. The flamingo, scrub jay, osprey and spoonbill are all candidates for the honor. — NPR
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Learn From Experience
Read real-life stories about insurance, renovations, home safety and more from pros and homeowners like you.
Why Did My Homeowners Insurance Go Up?
When outside forces impact either (or both) of those factors, it can explain why rates may be increasing. But there are steps you can take to help keep your costs down.
How Can Insurance Help Me Prepare for a Flood Disaster?
Depending on the coverages you select, flood insurance can provide coverage for the cost to repair your home and replace its contents if there’s a flood.
Refusing to Abandon Their Homes, Homeowners Rebuild With Flood Risk in Mind
They live in flood zones, and after major flooding from hurricanes and rain events destroyed their homes, these homeowners discovered ways to rebuild and retrofit to help reduce the risk of future flood damage.
1 Based on average premium for HO-3 type open perils homeowners policies.