For many Florida homeowners, the biggest surprise after a hurricane isn’t the damage. It’s the deductible. A “2%” deductible sounds small until you realize it’s 2% of your dwelling coverage, not 2% of the damage.
Here’s how hurricane deductibles work under Florida law, how they differ from your regular deductible and what to look for on your policy before the next storm.
General information only. Your declarations page shows your actual deductibles. Ask your insurance agent about changing them.
Percentage deductibles are based on your dwelling limit
Most Florida homeowners policies have two deductibles:
- An all other perils (AOP) deductible, usually a flat dollar amount, for things like a burst pipe or a fire.
- A hurricane deductible, often a percentage of your dwelling (Coverage A) limit.
Example (illustration only): if your dwelling limit is $400,000 and your hurricane deductible is 2%, your hurricane deductible is $8,000. With a 5% deductible it would be $20,000. If your covered hurricane damage is $14,000 and your deductible is $8,000, the most the policy would pay for that damage is $6,000, subject to the rest of your policy terms.
Florida law requires insurers to show the actual dollar value of the hurricane deductible on the declarations page for personal residential policies (Fla. Stat. § 627.701(4)(b)). Look for it there.
What options does Florida require insurers to offer?
Under § 627.701(3), before issuing a personal residential policy, an insurer generally must offer hurricane deductibles of $500, 2%, 5% and 10% of the dwelling limit, with some exceptions:
- For dwelling limits of $250,000 or more, the insurer doesn’t have to offer the $500 option.
- For dwelling limits of $1 million to under $3 million, the insurer may offer 3% instead of 2%.
- For $3 million or more, the insurer doesn’t have to offer the 2% option.
- Certain older deductible programs with a minimum of 2% are grandfathered.
For homes valued under $500,000, a hurricane deductible above 10% requires a handwritten statement from the policyholder (and lender approval if there’s a mortgage) (§ 627.701(4)(d)).
The once-per-calendar-year rule
Florida doesn’t make you pay a full hurricane deductible for every storm in the same year. Under § 627.701(5)(a), for personal residential policies:
- The hurricane deductible applies on an annual basis to all covered hurricane losses in the same calendar year (January to December, not the June–November season).
- If you had a hurricane loss earlier in the year, a later hurricane claim is subject to the greater of your remaining hurricane deductible or your AOP deductible.
- Your insurer may ask you to report hurricane losses that were below the deductible, or keep receipts, so they can count toward the annual deductible.
Takeaway: even if early damage seems too small to matter, document it. It may reduce what you pay on a second storm in the same year.
When does the hurricane deductible apply?
Policies define when a “hurricane” deductible is triggered, usually tied to the National Hurricane Center issuing a watch or warning and a time window around the storm. Damage from a thunderstorm or tornado that isn’t part of a declared hurricane usually falls under the AOP deductible instead. If you’re unsure which deductible was applied, ask the insurer to explain in writing.
Roof deductibles are separate, and don’t apply to hurricanes
Since 2022, Florida allows insurers to add a separate roof deductible to personal residential policies (§ 627.701(10)). Key limits:
- It can’t exceed the lesser of 2% of Coverage A or 50% of the cost to replace the roof.
- It applies only to claims adjusted on a replacement-cost basis.
- It doesn’t apply to a total loss, a roof loss from a hurricane, a tree fall or hazard that punctures the roof deck, or a repair of less than 50% of the roof.
- If a roof deductible applies, no other deductible applies to the same loss.
Policyholders must be offered the ability to opt out by signing an approved form.
Flood isn’t part of this
Your homeowners hurricane deductible applies to wind damage covered by your homeowners policy. Flood damage, including storm surge, is covered only by a separate flood policy, which has its own deductibles and rules. See our guide on wind vs. flood damage.
Before hurricane season: a 10-minute checklist
- Find your hurricane deductible in dollars on the declarations page.
- Check whether your policy has a separate roof deductible.
- Confirm your dwelling limit reflects today’s rebuild costs.
- Check whether you carry flood insurance, and note any waiting period before a new flood policy takes effect.
- Take date-stamped photos and video of your home’s exterior, roof and interior. Before-photos are some of the most useful evidence in a storm claim.
- Save your policy and agent contact information somewhere you can reach without power.
After a storm: don’t assume it’s “under the deductible”
Homeowners sometimes skip filing because the visible damage looks small. But a complete inspection can show damage that isn’t obvious from the ground, such as lifted tiles, damaged underlayment, water in the attic or interior moisture. And as noted above, smaller hurricane losses can count toward your annual deductible.
Remember the deadline: a new hurricane claim must be reported within 1 year after landfall (Fla. Stat. § 627.70132).
Your deductible and the insurer’s estimate
Because a hurricane deductible can be large, the insurer’s estimate matters even more. If the estimate leaves out roof components, interior damage or code-required work, the total can land below your deductible even when real repair costs are higher. Compare the estimate line by line with contractor bids, and remember you’re entitled to a copy of the insurer’s detailed estimate within 7 days after its adjuster generates it (Fla. Stat. § 627.70131(3)(e)).
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum hurricane deductible in Florida?
For homes insured for less than $500,000, a deductible above 10% of the dwelling limit is allowed only if the policyholder provides a handwritten statement accepting it (and lender approval if mortgaged) (§ 627.701(4)(d)). Higher-value homes may have different options.
Should I pick a 2% or 5% hurricane deductible?
It’s a trade-off between premium and out-of-pocket risk. Calculate both in dollars using your dwelling limit and compare them with the premium difference. Your insurance agent can show your actual options.
Do I pay the hurricane deductible twice if two hurricanes hit in one year?
Not a full second deductible on the same personal residential policy. The deductible applies annually per calendar year, and later storms use the greater of the remaining hurricane deductible or your AOP deductible (§ 627.701(5)(a)).
Is a hurricane deductible the same as a wind deductible?
Not always. Some policies have a hurricane deductible that applies only to declared hurricanes and a separate windstorm deductible for other wind events. Read your declarations page.
Questions about a storm claim?
If you have hurricane damage and aren’t sure how your deductible applies, we can help you review it. Call 888-888-8591 or visit www.NorthsideAdjusters.com for a free claim review.
Learn more about our hurricane and storm damage claim help.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 627.701, Liability of insureds; deductibles (2026): https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/627.701
- Fla. Stat. § 627.70132 (2026): https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/627.70132
