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Flood insurance
Your homeowners policy doesn’t cover flood. We quote both the National Flood Insurance Program and private flood carriers so you can compare limits, waiting periods and price.
The short answer
Standard homeowners, condo and renters policies exclude flood, including storm surge and water that rises from outside. Flood insurance is a separate policy, available through the National Flood Insurance Program or private carriers. NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start, so it’s coverage to buy before hurricane season, not during a storm.
| NFIP | Private flood | |
|---|---|---|
| Building limit (homes) | Up to $250,000 | Often higher |
| Contents limit | Up to $100,000 | Often higher |
| Waiting period | Usually 30 days | Often shorter |
| Extras | Limited | Some include temporary living costs |
Neither is always cheaper. Price depends on your home’s elevation, flood zone, foundation and age, and private carriers can decline some homes. We quote both and show you the trade-offs.
Lenders require flood insurance in high-risk zones, but a large share of flood claims come from homes outside them. In Central Florida, heavy rain and overwhelmed drainage cause plenty of flooding far from the coast. Policies for lower-risk homes are often surprisingly affordable, so it’s worth a quote.
Florida now requires most Citizens Property Insurance policyholders to carry flood insurance, phased in by home value, with the last group added in 2027. If you’re with Citizens, ask us whether the requirement applies to you yet.
Basements and below-ground areas have limited coverage, and most policies don’t pay for outdoor property like landscaping or pools.
An elevation certificate helps if you have one, but we can start with just your address.
No. Flood, storm surge and rising water are excluded from standard homeowners, condo and renters policies. You need a separate flood policy.
NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, with exceptions such as a policy bought at a home closing. Some private flood policies start sooner. Don’t wait for a storm in the forecast.
It’s required by lenders for homes in high-risk flood zones with a federally backed mortgage, and Florida now requires most Citizens policyholders to carry it. For everyone else it’s optional, but strongly worth considering.
