Florida Homeowners Insurance is a bit different than other states as there are different deductibles due to exposure to hurricanes.
Flooding is NEVER covered in a homeowner's insurance policy as this coverage is through FEMA, a federal agency.
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Dwelling/attached structures (A), other structures (B), personal property (C), loss of use (D), personal liability (E) and medical payments (F). Wind—including hurricanes—is generally covered but subject to a separate hurricane deductible.
- Hurricane deductibles are typically 2.5% of the insured value of the home.
Common gaps/exclusions (or items needing extra endorsements):
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Flood/storm surge → excluded; buy separate NFIP/private flood.
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Sewer/drain backup → typically excluded unless you add a water-backup endorsement.
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Sinkholes → basic policies include only Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse; broader sinkhole loss is optional.
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Code upgrades → limited to Ordinance or Law coverage (Florida requires at least 25% of Coverage A; 50% must be offered).
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Wear/tear, neglect, and similar maintenance issues → not covered.
Roof coverage is a very sensitive area that needs to be understood before buying a home in Florida.
There is no statewide law that makes you replace a roof at 20 or 25 years. That’s an insurer underwriting cutoff, not a state statute.
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Florida law: Insurers can’t deny or non-renew solely due to roof age if it’s < 15 years. If the roof is 15+ years, you’re entitled to an inspection; if it shows ≥ 5 years of life, the insurer may not non-renew solely for age.
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Citizens (state-backed) guidance: Shingle/“soft” roofs over 25 years and tile/metal/“hard” roofs over 50 need documentation showing ≥ 5 years remaining life; a one-time exception may extend coverage when an inspection supports it.
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Private carriers: May set stricter age limits (e.g., 20 years) if consistent with law and underwriting criteria.
