Hurricane deductible in Florida

What a hurricane deductible is

Most Florida homeowners, condo-unit and dwelling policies have two deductibles: an "all other perils" (AOP) deductible, often a flat dollar amount, and a separate hurricane deductible, usually stated as a percentage of the Coverage A (dwelling) limit. When a covered loss is caused by a hurricane, the hurricane deductible applies instead of the AOP deductible.

A percentage is applied to the dwelling limit, not to the size of the loss. With a $350,000 dwelling limit and a 2% hurricane deductible, the deductible is $7,000 whether the damage is $8,000 or $80,000. At 10%, it would be $35,000.

The choices Florida law requires insurers to offer

Under s. 627.701(3)(a), before issuing a personal lines residential policy the insurer must offer alternative hurricane deductibles of $500, 2%, 5% and 10% of the dwelling limit, unless a percentage would be less than $500. The written offer must say which deductible applies if you do not choose. Insurers must remind you of the options at each renewal. There are exceptions for higher-value homes:

• Dwelling limits of $100,000 to under $250,000: the insurer may substitute a policy with up to a 2% deductible and a one-renewal non-renewal guarantee for the $500 option.
• $250,000 or more: the insurer need not offer the $500 option.
• $1 million to under $3 million: a 3% option may replace the 2% option.
• $3 million or more: the insurer need not offer the 2% option.

A personal residential policy on a home valued under $500,000 may not have a hurricane deductible above 10% unless every named insured hand-writes and signs a specific statement that they do not want insurance to pay for the first part of hurricane damage, and any mortgage holder approves in writing (s. 627.701(4)(d)).

Disclosure rules

A policy with a separate hurricane deductible must state on its face, in bold type of at least 18 points: "THIS POLICY CONTAINS A SEPARATE DEDUCTIBLE FOR HURRICANE LOSSES, WHICH MAY RESULT IN HIGH OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES TO YOU." For personal residential policies, the insurer must compute and display the actual dollar value of the hurricane deductible on the declarations page at issuance and on the renewal declarations or renewal notice (s. 627.701(4)(a)–(b)). If you have an inflation guard, the insurer must warn that the deductible may be higher at the time of loss.

When a loss is a "hurricane" loss

The hurricane deductible applies only to losses during the statutory hurricane period. Under s. 627.4025(2)(c), a hurricane is a storm system declared to be a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center. In Florida its duration:

• Begins when a hurricane warning is issued for any part of Florida by the National Hurricane Center; and
• Ends 72 hours after the termination of the last hurricane watch or hurricane warning issued for any part of Florida.

Wind damage from a tropical storm that never became a hurricane affecting Florida, or from a squall outside that window, generally falls under the AOP deductible instead. Check the timing if your insurer applies the larger deductible to damage that happened before a warning or after the window closed.

One deductible per calendar year

For personal lines residential policies issued or renewed on or after May 1, 2005, the hurricane deductible applies on an annual basis to all covered hurricane losses in a calendar year under policies issued by the same insurer or insurer group (s. 627.701(5)(a)). If a second hurricane strikes in the same year, the insurer may apply the greater of the remaining hurricane deductible or the AOP deductible. Insurers may require you to report hurricane losses below the deductible, or keep receipts, so that those losses count toward the annual amount.

That makes a small first storm worth reporting. If you paid $4,000 of repairs yourself after an early-season hurricane, and your deductible is $7,000, documenting it may reduce the deductible on a later hurricane that year to $3,000 or the AOP deductible, whichever is greater.

For commercial residential policies (for example, condominium associations) issued or renewed since January 1, 2006, the insurer must offer both an annual hurricane deductible and a per-hurricane deductible (s. 627.701(5)(b)).

What the hurricane deductible does not apply to

• Flood policies. NFIP and private flood policies have their own building and contents deductibles. Surge and rising-water damage is paid, if at all, under the flood policy after its own deductible.
• Damage outside the hurricane window, which falls under the AOP deductible.
• Losses below the deductible are still worth documenting, because they can count toward the calendar-year deductible.

Disputes about the deductible

Common problems include applying the hurricane deductible to non-hurricane damage, failing to credit earlier hurricane losses in the same year, computing the percentage on the wrong limit, or applying a deductible above 10% without the required signed statement. Another frequent issue: an insurer estimates the wind damage just under the deductible, so nothing is paid. A thorough independent estimate that includes interior wind-driven rain damage, contents, and code-required work where covered can change that result. Florida's DFS mediation program (s. 627.7015) and the other dispute routes in our deadlines guide apply to deductible disagreements too.

Last reviewed: October 2026. Florida statutes cited are from the 2026 Florida Statutes; NFIP terms from 44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A.