Florida hurricane deductibles and your wind mitigation

What a hurricane deductible is

Florida Statutes s. 627.4025 defines the hurricane deductible as "the deductible applicable to loss caused by a hurricane." Hurricane coverage is coverage for loss caused by windstorm during a hurricane, including rain damage inside the home if the wind first opens the building. The Department of Financial Services (DFS) says hurricane coverage does not include flooding, and that a deductible is the dollar amount the policyholder pays before the insurance company pays anything.

When it applies

Under s. 627.4025, a hurricane is a storm the National Hurricane Center has declared a hurricane. In Florida, its duration starts when a hurricane warning is issued for any part of the state and ends 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or warning for any part of the state ends. DFS's guide says that if the storm is later downgraded to a tropical storm or depression, the downgrade has no bearing on the hurricane deductible.

How to find yours in dollars

Section 627.701(4)(b) says the insurer must compute and prominently display the dollar value of the hurricane deductible on the declarations page at issuance, and on the renewal declarations page or renewal notice. A policy with a separate hurricane deductible must also carry a bold statement on its face that it "may result in high out-of-pocket expenses to you." DFS's example: $200,000 of coverage with a 2 percent hurricane deductible is a $4,000 deductible.

If your policy has an inflation guard rider, s. 627.701(4)(c) says the insurer must also tell you the hurricane deductible may be higher than shown when a loss occurs.

Once per calendar year

Section 627.701(5)(a) says the hurricane deductible applies on an annual basis to all covered hurricane losses in a calendar year under policies from the same insurer or insurer group. For a second hurricane that year, the insurer may apply the greater of what is left of the hurricane deductible or the deductible for other perils.

DFS walks through an example. With a $4,000 hurricane deductible and a $1,000 all other perils deductible, a first hurricane causes $2,000 of damage, which the owner pays and which is credited toward the deductible. A second hurricane causes $5,000 of damage; the $2,000 balance is subtracted and the insurer pays $3,000. Later hurricane claims that year get the $1,000 deductible.

DFS says that if you move the policy to an insurer outside the original group after a hurricane claim, the hurricane deductible applies in full to the second claim. DFS also says policyholders should always file claims even when the damage is less than the hurricane deductible, so the company has a record of the credit toward a later claim.

Deductibles above 10 percent

For a home valued under $500,000, s. 627.701(4)(d) bars a hurricane deductible over 10 percent of the dwelling limit unless every named insured personally writes or types, signs and dates this statement: "I do not want the insurance on my home to pay for the first (specify dollar value) of damage from hurricanes. I will pay those costs. My insurance will not." If the home has a mortgage or lien, the lender must also approve in writing.

Roof deductibles are separate

Section 627.701(10) lets an insurer add a separate roof deductible of no more than the lesser of 2 percent of the Coverage A limit or 50 percent of the cost to replace the roof. It does not apply to a roof loss from a hurricane, and DFS says the roof deductible will not apply when the hurricane deductible applies. The policyholder can opt out by signing a form approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). Roof age rules are separate again; see Florida's roof age rules.

Where wind mitigation comes in

Section 627.701(9) says that when a policyholder "has taken appropriate hurricane mitigation measures," the insurer must offer the option of an appropriate reduction in the hurricane deductible or the discount, credit or other rate differential under s. 627.0629. The insurer must give notice of these options on a form approved by OIR.

Section 627.0629(1) says residential rate filings must include actuarially reasonable discounts, credits or other rate differentials, "or appropriate reductions in deductibles," for homes with windstorm loss-reducing features. Section 627.711(1) requires the insurer to tell you, at issuance and each renewal, the range of each discount, credit or deductible reduction available for those features.

The proof is the uniform mitigation verification form, OIR-B1-1802, which s. 627.711(2)(a) says all insurers must use when a policyholder submits it for wind insurance discounts. The form says it is valid for up to five years if the structure has no material changes and the form has no inaccuracies. See every question on the form and what the discounts can be worth.

Surplus lines policies

DFS says surplus lines insurers do not need to file their rates or forms with OIR, so their policies may have deductibles different from those described here. DFS advises reading your policy and contacting your agent.

Before your next renewal

• Find the dollar figure: check the hurricane deductible on your declarations page or renewal notice (s. 627.701(4)(b)).
• Ask about the mitigation option: if your home has mitigation features, ask your agent for the s. 627.701(9) choice between a lower hurricane deductible and the mitigation discount.
• Get the form: compare wind mitigation prices across Palm Beach County or find inspectors on the city pages.

FAQ

What are the hurricane deductible options in Florida?

Florida Statutes s. 627.701(3) requires insurers to offer hurricane deductibles of $500, 2 percent, 5 percent and 10 percent of the dwelling limit. For dwelling limits of $250,000 or more, the $500 option is not required.

When does the hurricane deductible apply in Florida?

Under s. 627.4025, from the time a hurricane warning is issued for any part of Florida until 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or warning for any part of Florida ends. The storm must be declared a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center.

Do I pay the hurricane deductible for every hurricane?

No, if you stay with the same insurer or insurer group. Section 627.701(5) applies the hurricane deductible once per calendar year; for a later hurricane, the insurer may apply the greater of the remaining hurricane deductible or the other perils deductible.

Can a wind mitigation inspection lower my hurricane deductible?

It can open the option. Section 627.701(9) says that when you have taken appropriate hurricane mitigation measures, the insurer must let you choose an appropriate reduction in the hurricane deductible or the mitigation discount under s. 627.0629.

Sources

• Florida Statutes s. 627.701 (2026), liability of insureds; coinsurance; deductibles: leg.state.fl.us (checked Oct 24, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 627.4025 (2026), residential coverage and hurricane coverage defined: leg.state.fl.us (checked Oct 24, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 627.0629 (2026), residential property insurance; rate filings: leg.state.fl.us (checked Oct 24, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 627.711 (2026), notice of premium discounts; uniform mitigation verification inspection form: leg.state.fl.us (checked Oct 24, 2026)
• Florida DFS, Florida's Hurricane Deductible: myfloridacfo.com (checked Oct 24, 2026)
• Florida DFS, Florida's Hurricane Deductible consumer guide: myfloridacfo.com (PDF) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
• Florida OIR, Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26): floir.gov (PDF) (checked Oct 24, 2026)