Florida Flood Insurance Costs and Coverage
Flood insurance in Florida costs $878 a year, on average, but your actual rate depends on your home’s flood risks.
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 $878 a year for policies bought 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
Across Florida, NFIP flood insurance rates range from $610 a year in low-risk flood zones to $2,412 a year in areas with greater risks.
| Flood zone | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| V | $2,412 |
| VE | $701 |
| A | $1,386 |
| A99 | $1,248 |
| AE | $1,067 |
| AH | $647 |
| B, C and X | $610 |
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
In Florida’s counties, NFIP flood insurance rates range from $485 a year in Bay County to $1,953 in Franklin County.
The average cost of flood insurance in Miami-Dade County is $590 a year. Homeowners in Duval County pay an average of $768 a year for flood insurance.
| County | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Alachua | $638 |
| Baker | $799 |
| Bay | $485 |
| Bradford | $928 |
| Brevard | $653 |
| Broward | $563 |
| Calhoun | $1,031 |
| Charlotte | $1,612 |
| Citrus | $1,829 |
| Clay | $829 |
| Collier | $1,109 |
| Columbia | $794 |
| Desoto | $974 |
| Dixie | $1,465 |
| Duval | $768 |
| Escambia | $732 |
| Flagler | $730 |
| Franklin | $1,953 |
| Gadsden | $764 |
| Gilchrist | $938 |
| Glades | $755 |
| Gulf | $1,324 |
| Hamilton | $877 |
| Hardee | $1,132 |
| Hendry | $999 |
| Hernando | $1,431 |
| Highlands | $519 |
| Hillsborough | $1,300 |
| Holmes | $916 |
| Indian River | $907 |
| Jackson | $866 |
| Jefferson | $680 |
| Lafayette | $843 |
| Lake | $673 |
| Lee | $1,417 |
| Leon | $834 |
| Levy | $1,775 |
| Liberty | $766 |
| Madison | $778 |
| Manatee | $1,199 |
| Marion | $589 |
| Martin | $772 |
| Miami-Dade | $590 |
| Monroe | $1,925 |
| Nassau | $734 |
| Okaloosa | $592 |
| Okeechobee | $825 |
| Orange | $559 |
| Osceola | $568 |
| Palm Beach | $532 |
| Pasco | $1,280 |
| Pinellas | $1,315 |
| Polk | $599 |
| Putnam | $1,005 |
| Santa Rosa | $726 |
| Sarasota | $1,153 |
| Seminole | $665 |
| St. Johns | $796 |
| St. Lucie | $572 |
| Sumter | $562 |
| Suwannee | $965 |
| Taylor | $1,745 |
| Union | $872 |
| Volusia | $573 |
| Wakulla | $1,873 |
| Walton | $488 |
| Washington | $920 |
Source: FEMA
Florida flood insurance requirements
Flood insurance in Florida has long been required for a mortgage in any FEMA flood zone beginning with the letter V or A. These are also known as special flood hazard areas (SFHAs), or high-risk flood zones.
Citizens has additional flood insurance requirements for its homeowners policies and standalone windstorm insurance.
- If your home is in a high-risk zone, you need flood insurance to get Citizens’ policy with wind coverage Most Citizens policies cover wind and hail. Citizens also offers standalone windstorm insurance. , even if you don’t have a mortgage.
- You also need flood insurance to get wind coverage for any home insured for $500,000 or more. This includes homes outside of high-risk zones.
- Beginning in 2026, you’ll need flood insurance to get a Citizens’ wind coverage for a home insured for at least $400,000.
- In 2027, you’ll need flood insurance to get Citizens’ wind coverage for a home of any value.
These new requirements don’t apply to condominium unit owners or renters. They also don’t apply to policies that exclude windstorm coverage.
Citizens does not offer flood insurance. You can meet its flood insurance requirements with a policy from the NFIP or an authorized private company.
Why consider flood insurance 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 about $68,000, according to FEMA.
What does flood insurance cover?
NFIP flood insurance offers up to $250,000 in building coverage for your home and up to $100,000 in contents coverage for your belongings.
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, your policy can 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) |
What is excess flood insurance?
Some private companies offer excess flood insurance. You usually need an NFIP policy for basic flood protections. An excess flood policy provides additional coverage. For example, if you need to insure your home for $350,000, an NFIP policy can provide the first $250,000 in coverage. You can then get excess flood for the remaining $100,000.
How to get flood insurance in Florida
Flood insurance is widely available from local insurance companies throughout 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
Shopping around, choosing higher deductibles and reducing your home’s flood risks are among the best ways to save money on flood insurance.
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.
Frequently asked questions
The average price of flood insurance in Florida is $878 a year. Your actual rate depends on your home’s flood risks and the amount of coverage you need.
If you need a mortgage, your lender will make you get flood insurance if your home is in a zone beginning with the letters V or A. Citizens has additional flood insurance requirements for many of its customers.
Florida’s new flood insurance law created stricter flood insurance requirements for Citizens insurance customers. You now need flood insurance to get wind protection from Citizens in a high-risk flood zone, even if you don’t have a mortgage.
By 2027, Citizens will require flood insurance for any home with wind protection. The requirements don’t apply to renters and condominium unit owners.