Florida hurricane (wind) deductible: what you pay before your policy does.
Quick answer: In Florida, the hurricane deductible applies to windstorm damage from a storm the National Hurricane Center has declared a hurricane, from when a hurricane warning is issued for any part of Florida until 72 hours after the last watch or warning ends. It is often 2%, 5% or 10% of your dwelling limit and generally applies once per calendar year.
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Who this page is for
- Homeowners and condo owners reviewing a renewal before hurricane season.
- Buyers comparing deductible options before closing.
- Anyone who just found out their “wind deductible” is a percentage, not a flat dollar amount.
How the hurricane deductible works
- It’s a percentage of the dwelling limit, not of the damage. With a $300,000 dwelling limit, a 2% hurricane deductible is $6,000 and a 5% deductible is $15,000. Florida law requires the dollar amount to be printed on your declarations page.
- Options insurers must offer. Before issuing a personal residential policy, insurers must offer hurricane deductibles of $500, 2%, 5% and 10% of the dwelling limit. There are exceptions by dwelling limit; for example, the $500 option isn’t required at $250,000 and up.
- Above 10% takes extra steps. For a home valued under $500,000, a hurricane deductible above 10% requires a handwritten, signed statement from the policyholder. If there is a mortgage, the lender must approve it in writing.
- Once per calendar year, with conditions. If more than one hurricane damages your home in the same calendar year, and you are insured by the same insurer or insurer group, the later storm uses the greater of what is left of your hurricane deductible or your regular deductible. Your insurer may ask you to report smaller losses or keep receipts, so document every storm loss, even small ones.
- Tropical storms are different. Damage from a storm before the National Hurricane Center declares it a hurricane falls under your regular “all other perils” deductible, not the hurricane deductible.
Four questions we will ask you
- What is your dwelling limit and your hurricane deductible in dollars? Both are on the declarations page.
- How much cash could you realistically pay the week after a storm? That number should guide your deductible choice.
- Do you have a wind mitigation inspection report? Florida law requires insurers to offer either a reduced hurricane deductible or a credit for qualifying mitigation features. Which one you get, and how much, depends on the insurer and the inspection.
- Do you have a mortgage, and what does your lender require? Lenders can limit how high a deductible you may choose.
What is not covered (honest limits)
- Flood is not part of hurricane coverage. Storm-surge and rising-water damage needs a separate flood policy, which has its own deductible.
- The deductible is yours to pay. No homeowners policy pays the hurricane deductible back to you.
- Separate roof deductibles exist. Some policies include one for non-hurricane roof claims, so read your declarations page closely.
- Wind may be on a separate policy. Some homes carry wind coverage through a separate policy, such as a Citizens Property Insurance wind-only policy, with its own deductible.
Talk to a licensed agent
Send us your declarations page and we’ll explain your hurricane deductible in dollars and the options you have at renewal. Call (305) 859-3953, or leave your number and we’ll contact you within an hour during business hours.
We speak English, Spanish and Russian. Policy documents are issued in English; we explain them in your language.
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Florida City, FL 33034
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Florida hurricane deductible: FAQ
Does the hurricane deductible apply to tropical storms?
No. It applies only to a storm the National Hurricane Center has declared a hurricane, during the window set by Florida law. Damage before that declaration uses your regular deductible.
Is the hurricane deductible per storm or per year?
For personal residential policies it generally applies once per calendar year, as long as you stay with the same insurer or insurer group. A later hurricane uses the greater of your remaining hurricane deductible or your regular deductible.
Can I change my hurricane deductible in the middle of hurricane season?
Usually changes are made at renewal, and insurers can restrict changes once a storm threatens. If you want a different deductible, ask well before June 1.
Where do I find my hurricane deductible?
On your declarations page. Florida law requires insurers to show it as a dollar amount, even if it is written as a percentage.
How long do I have to report hurricane damage?
Florida law generally requires notice of a property claim within 1 year of the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. For a hurricane, the date of loss is the date it made landfall. Report as soon as you can.
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Questions about your coverage?
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This article is general information, not legal advice or policy language. Coverage depends on the terms, limits and exclusions of your policy, and eligibility rules can change. Talk with a licensed agent about your situation.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on October 3, 2026.
- Florida Statutes s. 627.4025: definition of “hurricane” and when the hurricane deductible applies
- Florida Statutes s. 627.701: hurricane deductible options, dollar amount on the declarations page, once per calendar year
- Florida Statutes s. 627.0629: wind mitigation credits and deductible reductions
- Florida OIR memorandum OIR-16-07M: damage before a storm is declared a hurricane uses the regular deductible
- Florida Department of Financial Services: Florida’s hurricane deductible
- Florida Statutes s. 627.70132: deadlines to report property claims (1 year, 18 months for supplemental claims)
- Citizens Property Insurance: flood insurance requirement
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