Florida home insurance nonrenewal: your options

Florida's notice rules

Under Florida Statutes 627.4133, an insurer that will not renew a residential property policy must generally give at least 120 days of written notice, with the reasons. There are narrower rules for some situations, such as nonpayment. If your notice gives less time or no reason, call the Department of Financial Services.

Roof-age protections

Roof age is one of the most common reasons Florida homeowners hear. Florida Statutes 627.7011 limits how insurers can use it:

• An insurer cannot refuse to write or renew a policy solely because the roof is less than 15 years old.
• For a roof 15 years or older, the insurer can require an inspection.
• If an inspection shows the roof has at least 5 years of useful life left, the insurer cannot refuse to write or renew solely because of the roof's age.

If your notice cites roof age, find out exactly how old the roof is (your permit record helps) and get a written inspection from a licensed professional. If it shows 5 or more years of life left, send it to your insurer and ask in writing whether it will renew. See our roof-age rules guide for more.

Citizens Property Insurance

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is Florida's state-created insurer of last resort. You can apply through a Citizens-appointed agent. Two rules matter most:

• The 20 percent rule. You are eligible for Citizens if no private insurer will offer coverage, or if private offers for comparable coverage are more than 20 percent higher than the Citizens premium. Your agent submits the quotes or declinations with the application (Citizens clearinghouse).
• The clearinghouse. Citizens' clearinghouse program compares private-market offers against Citizens before a policy is placed or renewed.

Citizens also requires flood insurance on most personal residential policies that include wind coverage. Homes in a FEMA special flood hazard area already need it. Outside that area, the requirement has phased in by dwelling value ($400,000 or more as of January 1, 2026) and applies to all such policies starting January 1, 2027. The flood limit must at least equal your Citizens dwelling limit, or the NFIP maximum if lower (Citizens flood requirements).

Wind mitigation and My Safe Florida Home

A wind mitigation inspection documents roof shape, roof-to-wall connections, roof deck attachment and opening protection. Florida insurers must offer discounts for qualifying features, so the inspection can lower your premium and help an underwriter say yes. The state's My Safe Florida Home program has offered free inspections and matching grants for hardening projects to eligible homeowners when funding is available. Check the site for current status.

A sensible order of steps

1. Read the reason. Roof age, condition, claims or the insurer leaving your area each call for a different plan.
2. Get inspections. A roof inspection and a wind mitigation inspection give you documents every insurer will ask for.
3. Shop the private market. Independent agents can quote several companies.
4. Check Citizens eligibility. Ask your agent to compare private quotes with the Citizens premium under the 20 percent rule.
5. Watch the calendar. Insurers may suspend new policies when a named storm threatens. Bind coverage early in hurricane season.
6. Tell your lender. Let your mortgage servicer know before your policy lapses.

Flood is separate

Florida homeowners policies do not cover flood. Look up your zone on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and get a flood quote. Citizens may require flood coverage for your home.

Common reasons Florida homeowners hear

• Roof age or condition. Use the 627.7011 rules above and get an inspection.
• Missing wind mitigation documents. An inspection form can change both eligibility and price.
• Claims history. Ask which claims were counted and when.
• The insurer reducing business in your area. This is about the company, not your home. Shop right away.
• Older plumbing, wiring or water heaters. A four-point inspection documents these systems.

Keep your mortgage current

If your policy lapses, your lender can force-place coverage and add the cost to your payment. Send your new declarations page to your servicer as soon as you bind.

Hurricane deductibles

Florida policies usually have a separate hurricane deductible, often 2, 5 or 10 percent of the dwelling limit. On a $300,000 dwelling limit, a 2 percent hurricane deductible is $6,000. Compare deductibles across quotes, not just premiums, and ask whether the deductible applies once per season or per storm.

Before you sign

Read the declarations page and endorsements. Check roof coverage, water damage limits and any exclusions added since your last policy. Ask your agent to explain changes in writing.

Florida paperwork that speeds up quotes

Most Florida insurers ask for a wind mitigation form and a four-point inspection on older homes, plus proof of roof age from a permit or invoice. Keep your nonrenewal notice, your current declarations page and any flood policy together. If you may need Citizens, your agent will also need private quotes or declinations to show eligibility.

When to call for help

Call the DFS Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-693-5236 if your notice seems late, gives no reason, or relies on roof age in a way the law does not allow. To talk through replacement options, call us.

Not sure what your letter says? Use the notice decoder. Roof the problem? Read roof-age rules. Other states: all state guides.

Sources

• Florida Statutes 627.4133, Notice of nonrenewal
• Florida Statutes 627.7011, Roof age
• Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
• Citizens clearinghouse eligibility
• Citizens flood insurance requirements
• Florida Department of Financial Services, Consumer Services
• My Safe Florida Home