Florida Flood Insurance Costs and Coverage

The average cost of flood insurance in Florida is $760 a year, but prices vary widely by flood zone.

Lenders require flood insurance in Florida’s high-risk flood zones, and the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is rolling out new flood insurance requirements for its customers.

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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.

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 $444 a year in Bay County to $1,672 in Franklin 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.

Source: FEMA

Florida flood insurance requirements

Flood insurance in Florida has traditionally been required to get a mortgage for a home located in any FEMA flood zone beginning with the letter V or A.

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.

Here’s why flood insurance is worth considering when it’s not required for a loan or Citizens policy:

• 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?

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, 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 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

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.