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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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If you’re a Florida homeowner wondering whether you need flood insurance or thinking about switching companies, you’re not alone. The rules — and Florida’s sea level — are changing fast.
Premiums are rising under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and new state laws now require many customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to buy flood insurance.[1] Starting in October, landlords and sellers must also disclose a property’s flood history.[2]
Standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage in Florida. Understanding your flood risk, policy options, and coverage needs is essential to avoid costly surprises.
Here’s what to know before you choose a policy or make a switch.
Florida requires Citizens customers and homeowners with federally backed mortgages in high-risk flood zones to have flood insurance.
Flood insurance in Florida costs around $1,083 per year, but rates vary widely.
Some Florida home insurers offer a flood insurance endorsement to add to your homeowners insurance policy.
It’s a good idea for most Florida homeowners to have flood insurance. Florida’s flat landscape, long coastline, and frequent storms make it one of the most flood-prone states in the country. Even if you have homeowners insurance, it doesn’t cover flood damage.
If you have a federally backed mortgage and live in a high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or have a Citizens home policy, flood insurance is a requirement. But risk isn’t limited to those flood zones. More than 30% of flood insurance claims come from lower-risk areas.[3]
Average flood insurance claim payouts after Hurricanes Idalia and Ian were almost $70,000.[4] The average FEMA disaster assistance grant is only $5,000 per household, and it doesn’t guarantee approval.[5] If you get a grant, you have to buy flood insurance to qualify again in the future.
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Florida requires mandatory flood insurance for people insured with Citizens. Homeowners with $400,000 or more in dwelling replacement cost coverage with wind coverage must get flood insurance by Jan. 1, 2026. All remaining Citizens homeowners policies also need to buy flood insurance by Jan. 1, 2027.
FEMA also has federal flood insurance requirements depending on your flood zone.
If you have a federally backed mortgage loan through the Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac, you have to meet mortgage lender requirements if you live in a high-risk flood zone. Flood zones A and V are SFHA high-risk zones. For example, if you own a home with a federal loan in coastal Tampa within a V flood zone, your lender will require flood insurance.
You can buy a flood insurance policy through the NFIP or a private insurer. Flood insurance building coverage for first mortgages must be equal to the lowest of the following:[6]
100% of the building’s replacement cost value
The maximum NFIP coverage limits
The loan’s outstanding principal balance
Flood zones represent how likely an area is to flood. In Florida, they determine whether you’ll need flood insurance. Flooding is common in Florida, and these zones matter even if you don’t live on the coast.
FEMA uses flood maps to assign zones based on how likely an area is to experience flooding in a given year. High-risk zones are often called 100-year flood zones, meaning there’s at least a 1% chance of flooding in any given year.
If you live in a high-risk flood zone and have a federally backed mortgage, the state requires you to have flood insurance.
Here’s how they differ:
Flood Zone Designation  | Flood Risk | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| A | High | All federally backed mortgages |
| V, VE | High | All federally backed mortgages |
| B & X | Moderate | Some private lenders |
| C & X | Minimal | None |
| D | Undetermined | None |
High-risk zones: Include flood zones A, AE, V, and VE (1% or greater chance of flooding)
Moderate-/low-risk zones: Include flood zones X, B, and C (less than a 1% chance of flooding)
Flood maps are updated periodically, but many are outdated. Your zone may have changed. To check your property’s current zone, visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center.
Floridians have more flood insurance options than other states. You can buy flood insurance from the NFIP or private flood insurance companies in Florida.
Private insurers may be a better alternative if you don’t qualify for NFIP coverage or you need higher coverage limits than NFIP offers. Lenders accept NFIP and private flood insurance policies as long as you meet the minimum requirements mentioned above.
The table below compares NFIP and private flood insurance to help you choose the best one for you.
Factor | NFIP | Private Flood Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage limits | $250,000 in building coverage $100,000 in personal property coverage7 | $500,000 or more in building coverage $250,000 or more for personal property coverage |
| Average costs | $1,083 per year | Varies by flood zone, company, and coverage types and limits |
| Waiting periods | 30 days from the purchase date | Up to 15 days
|
| Additional benefits | Up to $30,000 for increased cost of compliance (ICC) to rebuild after the flood Discounts for newly mapped and pre-FIRM properties | May include up to $30,000 in ICC coverage, replacement cost value on detached structures and belongings, loss assessment coverage, additional living expenses (ALE), and contents coverage in finished basements |
NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period and only cover up to $250,000 for your home, which may not be enough. Private flood insurance is usually more flexible, offering higher coverage limits and shorter or no waiting periods. It also offers extra features, including coverage for living expenses, detached structures, and finished basements.
About 32 insurance companies in Florida participate in FEMA’s Write Your Own Program, including Auto-Owners, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, National General, and USAA.[7]
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NFIP flood insurance rates average $1,083 per year in Florida. Private insurance rates vary by company.
Insurers consider the following factors when determining flood insurance costs in Florida.
Flood zone designation: People living in low- to moderate-risk flood zones usually pay less than those in high-risk zones.
Home elevation, age, construction type: You may get cheaper flood insurance rates if your home is elevated, newer, or masonry built instead of frame.
Coverage limits and deductibles: The higher your coverage limits, the more you’ll pay for flood insurance. But you can lower your cost with a higher flood insurance deductible, with options from $1,000 to $10,000.
FEMA Risk Rating 2.0: Although 20% of Florida residents saw a decrease in premiums with the new rating system, 80% received a rate increase of up to $20 per month.[8]
Flood insurance helps cover damage caused by rising water, but it doesn’t cover everything on your property. In Florida, where floods can happen from hurricanes, tropical storms, or even heavy rain, knowing what’s covered and what’s not can help you avoid surprises.
Flood insurance covers:
Structural damage to your home, including foundation, walls, staircases, and permanently installed fixtures
Electrical and plumbing systems, including wiring, circuit breakers, and pipes
Built-in appliances and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, such as central air systems, well-water tanks, and water heaters
Personal property like clothing, furniture, and electronics — if you have contents coverage
Flood insurance doesn’t cover:
Sewer backup damage, unless it’s directly caused by the flood
Temporary living expenses if your home is unlivable from flood damage, unless you add coverage to a private flood policy
Outdoor property such as pools, decks, fences, and landscaping
Business interruption or lost income due to flood damage
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Buying flood insurance in Florida starts with understanding your property’s flood risk and knowing your options. Both the NFIP and private insurers offer coverage, but policies vary in price, coverage types, limits, and optional add-ons.
Follow these steps to buy flood insurance in Florida:
Determine your flood zone. Use FEMA’s map tools to check which flood zone your home is in.
Compare NFIP and private options. Review available coverages and limits to determine whether an NFIP or private policy will best meet your coverage needs and budget.
Gather multiple quotes. Compare rates from the NFIP and at least two private insurers to see which company offers the best deal.
Choose coverage limits and deductibles. If you’re unsure about coverage limits, ask your agent for a flood-risk assessment to determine your coverage needs. Choose a deductible you can afford to pay if you need to file a claim.
Account for waiting periods. Private insurers have a 15-day or less waiting period, while NFIP policies require 30 days.
Use a licensed Florida insurance agent to get flood insurance. If you’re switching companies, make sure your policy dates match to avoid a coverage gap. Don’t wait to buy, as once a storm receives an official name, you usually can’t buy or change coverage.
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We answered common questions people ask about flood insurance in Florida.
It depends. Florida requires flood insurance if you have a federally backed mortgage and live in an SFHA zone or if you have a homeowners policy with Citizens.
No. Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding in Florida unless you have an endorsement for coverage on your policy. Check with your insurance company to see if it offers a flood insurance endorsement. If not, you’ll need a separate policy.
The average NFIP flood insurance cost in Florida is $1,083 per year. Private flood insurance rates vary by company, coverage amount, and deductible.
Florida passed a law in 2022 requiring homeowners with insurance through Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to buy flood insurance.
No. You can get flood insurance through the NFIP or one of the 32 private flood insurers via the Write Your Own Program. Some companies also offer an endorsement for flood insurance on your home insurance policy.
FEMA flood zones A and V are high-risk flood zones that require flood insurance if you have a federally backed mortgage. By 2027, anyone with home insurance through Citizens will also need flood insurance.
You can waive flood insurance in Florida if you’re in a low- or moderate-risk flood zone, or have your home insured with a company other than Citizens.
No. Florida offers multiple ways to get flood insurance. The NFIP and private flood insurance companies offer stand-alone policies, and some private insurers offer flood endorsements on home policies.
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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