Private market: 50+ licensed carriers
- OIR (Office of Insurance Regulation) licenses each admitted carrier writing in FL.
- Main: State Farm, USAA, Allstate, Universal Property & Casualty, Progressive, ASI/Progressive, Tower Hill, Heritage, People's Trust.
- 2022-2024: market in crisis — 6 insurers became insolvent; several majors (State Farm, Allstate) restricted new policies. FL legislation (SB 2-A 2022, HB 837 2023) reformed litigation.
- 2025-2026: partial rebound, new entrants admitted by OIR. Premiums starting to stabilize.
- Surplus lines (non-admitted): Lloyds of London, specialty carriers. More expensive, less consumer protection.
Citizens: insurer of last resort
- Created by the FL legislature in 2002 by merging the Florida Residential Property and Casualty JUA and the Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association.
- Governmental entity, governed by BOG (Board of Governors) appointed by Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, CFO.
- Mission: insure properties not insurable in the private market or where private is ≥ 20% more expensive.
- Three lines: HO-3 multi-peril, Wind-only (coastal zones), Commercial.
- Not for profit; deficits covered by assessments on all FL policyholders (private included) — can reach +25% over premium under F.S. §627.351(6)(b).
Citizens eligibility
For a property to be eligible for Citizens (F.S. §627.351(6)(c)):
- Applicant contacted at least one admitted private carrier.
- Either none offers coverage, or the comparable private premium is ≥ 20% higher.
- Property meets criteria:
- Replacement cost < $700,000 (non Miami-Dade/Monroe) or < $1M (Miami-Dade/Monroe).
- No uncorrected code violations.
- Roof in good condition, meeting requirements (4-point inspection or wind mitigation report proof).
- Annual renewal conditional on private market remaining insufficient.
Private vs Citizens comparison
| Criterion | Private admitted | Citizens |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Limited, underwriting-dependent | Guaranteed if eligible |
| Premium | Varies, sometimes higher | Stable, sometimes lower |
| 2026 glide path | Varies | −2.6% avg, 15% cap |
| Standard coverage | HO-3 or HO-6 standard | HO-3 or HO-6 standard |
| Potential assessments | Yes (FHCF, Citizens deficit) | Yes (Citizens deficit up to +25%) |
| Claims | Service varies by carrier | Known for slower process |
| Stability | Several insolvencies 2022-24 | State-backed |
For Canadian snowbird: watch out
- Private carriers may refuse or non-renew snowbird homes vacant > 30 or 90 days without supervision.
- Many require a vacancy clause or vacant-home endorsement with higher premium.
- Solution: monitoring service or property manager with monthly inspections + possibly a permanent resident friend/family.
- Without it, claims for plumbing, water damage may be denied.
- Citizens generally accepts snowbirds without special surcharge, but coverage caps still apply.
Formulaires officiels et pages de référence
Responsabilité du lecteur
Toujours utiliser la dernière version disponible sur le site officiel cité ci-dessous. Les seuils, taux et délais évoluent. CanadaFlorida ne se substitue pas à un professionnel licencié.
Every figure, rate, threshold, and deadline in this guide is drawn from a verifiable primary source listed at the bottom of the page. The article is updated whenever the underlying rules change, with a fresh review date stamped at the top.
Sources and references
Public sources verified as of the last review date (Florida Statutes, Florida Department of Revenue, Citizens, FEMA, DBPR).
- F.S. §627.351(6) — Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. leg.state.fl.us/§627.351
- Florida OIR — Insurance Regulator. floir.com
- Citizens — 2026 Rate Recommendations. citizensfla.com/2026-rates
- Senate Bill 2-A (2022) — Property insurance reform. flsenate.gov/sb2a