Florida Flood Insurance Costs and Coverage
Lenders require flood insurance in Florida’s high-risk flood zones, and the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is rolling out new flood insurance requirements for its customers.
How much does flood insurance cost in Florida?
The average cost of flood insurance in Florida is $760 a year for policies obtained through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Most flood insurance is bought through the NFIP, a federally backed program managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, several private companies also offer flood insurance in Florida.
Florida flood insurance rates by flood zone
The average price of NFIP flood insurance in Florida ranges from $541 a year in low-risk flood zones to $2,472 a year in high-risk areas.
| Flood zone | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| V | $2,472 |
| VE | $648 |
| A | $886 |
| A99 | $1,064 |
| AE | $957 |
| AH | $568 |
| B, C and X | $541 |
Source: FEMA
On FEMA’s flood maps, any zone that begins with the letter V (in coastal areas) or A (inland areas) is considered high-risk. Zones B, C and X signify low- and moderate-risk areas.
High-risk areas have a 1% chance of flooding each year and a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage.
V and A flood zones have subzones:
- VE and AE zones include areas where FEMA has identified the elevation for flooding to occur.
- AH zones are susceptible to shallow flooding.
- A99 zones are high-risk areas where flood control systems are being built.
You can find your flood zone, or the flood zone for a home you want to buy, in the Flood Map Service Center on FEMA’s website.
Flood insurance rates in Florida by county
The average cost of flood insurance in Miami-Dade County is $528 a year. Homeowners in Duval County pay an average of $668 a year for flood insurance.
| County | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Alachua County | $593 |
| Baker County | $738 |
| Bay County | $444 |
| Bradford County | $759 |
| Brevard County | $561 |
| Broward County | $518 |
| Calhoun County | $946 |
| Charlotte County | $1,317 |
| Citrus County | $1,560 |
| Clay County | $737 |
| Collier County | $879 |
| Columbia County | $689 |
| DeSoto County | $889 |
| Dixie County | $1,209 |
| Duval County | $668 |
| Escambia County | $649 |
| Flagler County | $621 |
| Franklin County | $1,672 |
| Gadsden County | $700 |
| Gilchrist County | $834 |
| Glades County | $602 |
| Gulf County | $1,131 |
| Hamilton County | $713 |
| Hardee County | $1,099 |
| Hendry County | $849 |
| Hernando County | $1,166 |
| Highlands County | $501 |
| Hillsborough County | $1,097 |
| Holmes County | $819 |
| Indian River County | $770 |
| Jackson County | $795 |
| Jefferson County | $635 |
| Lafayette County | $822 |
| Lake County | $618 |
| Lee County | $1,174 |
| Leon County | $751 |
| Levy County | $1,494 |
| Liberty County | $727 |
| Madison County | $647 |
| Manatee County | $1,027 |
| Marion County | $550 |
| Martin County | $665 |
| Miami-Dade County | $528 |
| Monroe County | $1,665 |
| Nassau County | $643 |
| Okaloosa County | $528 |
| Okeechobee County | $716 |
| Orange County | $553 |
| Osceola County | $539 |
| Palm Beach County | $480 |
| Pasco County | $1,055 |
| Pinellas County | $1,110 |
| Polk County | $534 |
| Putnam County | $843 |
| Santa Rosa County | $645 |
| Sarasota County | $1,007 |
| Seminole County | $623 |
| St. Johns County | $680 |
| St. Lucie County | $503 |
| Sumter County | $499 |
| Suwannee County | $795 |
| Taylor County | $1,384 |
| Union County | $790 |
| Volusia County | $511 |
| Wakulla County | $1,598 |
| Walton County | $452 |
| Washington County | $793 |
Source: FEMA
Florida flood insurance requirements
Citizens is also phasing in flood insurance requirements for its customers:
- In 2023, Citizens began requiring home insurance customers in high-risk flood zones to have flood insurance, regardless of mortgage status.
- As of 2024, Citizens customers with homes insured for $600,000 or more in any flood zone also need flood insurance.
- By Jan. 1, 2027, all Citizens home insurance customers will need to have flood insurance. The only exceptions are for condominium unit owners or if your policy does not include wind and hail coverage.
Citizens does not offer flood insurance.
Why you should consider flood insurance even when it’s not required:
- Flooding is a widespread risk throughout Florida.
- Floods can impact areas outside of high-risk flood zones.
- Standard home insurance does not cover damage from floods, including storm surges from a hurricane or tropical storm.
- Flood damage is expensive. The average cost of a flood insurance claim is more than $66,000, according to FEMA.
What does flood insurance cover?
The coverage only applies to conditions that meet FEMA’s definition of a flood, which include storm surges. Flood insurance does not cover a burst pipe or a water backup that fills your home with water.
Policies are available for most types of homes, including mobile homes and condominium units. Contents-only coverage is available to renters.
If you are getting flood insurance for a mortgage, you can have your policy begin on your close date. Otherwise, there is a 30-day waiting period for NFIP policies.
NFIP vs. private flood insurance
Although most flood insurance is bought through the NFIP, several private flood insurance companies also offer flood insurance in Florida. Some of the better-known companies include:
- Allstate
- Chubb
- Progressive
- Tower Hill
- Wright Flood
Private companies often offer more coverage than NFIP policies provide.
For example, several private flood insurance companies offer loss of use. This covers your temporary living expenses if a flood damages your home and you have to leave while it’s repaired. NFIP does not offer loss of use.
Private companies usually offer higher coverage limits than the NFIP. These higher limits can come in handy if it costs more than $250,000 to repair or rebuild your home after a flood.
Private flood insurance also often has a shorter waiting period than the NFIP.
NFIP vs. private flood insurance comparison
| Coverage | NFIP | Wright Flood | Allstate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | $250,000 | $5 million | $1.5 million |
| Contents | $100,000 | $250,000 | $750,000 |
| Loss of use | Not available | Available | $150,000 |
| Waiting period | 30 days (waived for loan closings) | Seven days (waived for loan closings) | Seven days (waived for loan closings) |
How to get flood insurance in Florida
FEMA makes NFIP policies available through insurance agents who complete its certification program. These include agents who work for well-known brands, such as State Farm and Allstate, as well as those who work for independent agencies.
To get started, just ask your current home insurance agent for an NFIP flood insurance quote. If you’re still shopping for home insurance, ask the agents you contact for home and flood insurance quotes.
There are different ways to shop for private flood insurance:
- When you contact a company that offers flood insurance, it typically gives you a choice between its own flood insurance and an NFIP policy.
- Some flood insurance agencies act as brokers. They can often provide quotes from the NFIP and multiple private flood insurance companies.
How to save on flood insurance in Florida
Why shop around for flood insurance
Comparing your NFIP flood insurance quote to quotes from multiple private companies is a good way to make sure you are not overpaying.
The price of an NFIP policy should be the same, regardless of where you get it. However, the cost of private flood insurance varies by company.
Why higher deductibles lower your flood insurance rate
Choosing a higher deductible lowers your flood insurance rate because it reduces the amount the insurer has to pay you for a claim.
Deductibles for NFIP policies range from $1,000 to $10,000 for building coverage and contents coverage. If a flood damages your home and possessions, you pay both deductibles.
How to reduce your home’s flood risk
Reducing the amount of damage a flood may cause to your home can often help you lower your flood insurance rates.
For example, you may get a discount for elevating your HVAC, water heater and/or other systems to a higher floor, according to FEMA.
Installing openings designed to let potential floodwaters pass through your home’s lowest floor is another way to reduce your flood insurance rate.
Methodology
Flood insurance rates were calculated using data from the NFIP as of Jan. 31, 2024.
Frequently asked questions
The average price of flood insurance in Florida is $760 a year. Prices range from $541 in low-risk flood zones to $2,472 in high-risk areas.
If you have a mortgage, you must get flood insurance for any home located in a flood zone beginning with the letter V or A. Citizens has additional requirements for its customers.
The new flood insurance law in Florida expands flood insurance requirements to Citizens’ home insurance customers. Citizens currently requires customers in high-risk flood zones or with a high-value home in any zone to have flood insurance. By 2027, Citizens will require all customers to have flood insurance, with limited exceptions.