Quick answer: In Florida, most homeowners policies have a separate hurricane deductible, and it is usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage (Coverage A) — not a percentage of the damage and not a flat amount. On a home insured for $350,000, a 2% hurricane deductible means the owner pays the first $7,000 of covered hurricane damage. At 5% it is $17,500; at 10% it is $35,000. Florida law requires insurers to offer you a choice, show the dollar amount on your declarations page, and apply the deductible only once per calendar year. Here is how it works and what to check before the next hurricane season.

For Realtors: this article is written so you can forward it to buyers and homeowners as-is.

How the percentage hurricane deductible works

Your declarations page lists two kinds of deductibles: an “all other perils” (AOP) deductible, often a flat dollar amount, and a separate hurricane deductible. The hurricane deductible is figured from the dwelling limit — the Coverage A amount on the policy — at the time of loss.

Illustration (simple arithmetic, not a quote): a home with $350,000 of dwelling coverage and $12,000 of covered hurricane damage to the roof and interior.

That is the surprise for many new owners: a moderate hurricane claim can fall entirely inside a 5% or 10% deductible. A higher deductible usually lowers the premium, and the Florida Legislature has said it wants to encourage higher hurricane deductibles to keep the market stable (s. 627.701(6), F.S.). The trade-off is simply more cash out of pocket after a storm — so the right choice depends on the owner’s savings, not just the premium.

Inflation guard can raise the dollar amount

Many policies include an inflation guard that increases Coverage A over time. Because the hurricane deductible is a percentage of Coverage A, the dollar figure rises with it. Florida law requires insurers with an inflation guard rider to warn you on the declarations page that the hurricane deductible may be higher than shown when a loss occurs (s. 627.701(4)(c), F.S.).

When the hurricane deductible applies (and when it doesn’t)

Florida law defines the window precisely (s. 627.4025, F.S.):

• The storm must be declared a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center.
• The hurricane period starts when a hurricane warning is issued for any part of Florida.
• It ends 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or warning for any part of Florida is lifted.

Hurricane coverage includes rain damage inside the home only when the wind first creates an opening (a torn-off roof covering, a broken window) that lets the rain in. Flood and storm surge are a different matter — see the checklist below.

When the hurricane deductible applies, no other deductible under the policy can be stacked on top of it (Florida Department of Financial Services). And if the policy has a separate roof deductible, that roof deductible may not be applied to a hurricane roof loss (s. 627.701(10), F.S.).

Once per calendar year — not once per storm

For personal residential policies, the hurricane deductible applies once per calendar year (January–December, not your policy year), as long as you stay with the same insurer or insurer group (s. 627.701(5), F.S.). If a second hurricane hits the same year, your deductible for it is the greater of:

1. whatever is left of your hurricane deductible after the first storm, or
2. your regular all-other-perils deductible.

Two catches homeowners miss:

• Switching companies resets it. If you move to an insurer outside the original group after a hurricane claim, the full hurricane deductible applies again to the next hurricane that year (Florida DFS).
• Report small losses anyway. Florida DFS advises filing claims even when the damage is below the deductible, so the insurer has a record to credit toward a later storm — and because hidden damage often shows up once repairs start. Insurers may ask you to report those losses or keep receipts (s. 627.701(5)(a)3, F.S.).

The options Florida law requires insurers to offer

Before issuing a homeowners (personal lines residential) policy, the insurer must offer hurricane deductibles of $500, 2%, 5% and 10% of the dwelling limit, and must remind you of these options at every renewal (s. 627.701(3)(a), F.S.). The written offer must also say which deductible you get if you don’t choose one — so a buyer who never answers the question still ends up with a deductible, just not one they picked.

There are exceptions based on the dwelling limit:

Disclosures to point clients to: the policy must carry a bold warning that it “CONTAINS A SEPARATE DEDUCTIBLE FOR HURRICANE LOSSES,” and the actual dollar amount of the hurricane deductible must be printed on the declarations page and on each renewal (s. 627.701(4), F.S.).

Going above 10% takes a handwritten statement

For a home valued under $500,000, a hurricane deductible above 10% is allowed only if every named insured personally writes or types, signs and dates: “I do not want the insurance on my home to pay for the first (dollar amount) of damage from hurricanes. I will pay those costs. My insurance will not.” If there is a mortgage, the lender must also approve in writing (s. 627.701(4)(d), F.S.).

Mitigation can lower the deductible, not just the premium

If the home has qualifying wind-mitigation features (roof-to-wall connections, opening protection, roof shape and deck attachment, and so on), Florida law requires the insurer to give you the option of a reduced hurricane deductible or a premium discount/credit (s. 627.701(9), F.S.). The proof is a wind mitigation inspection on the state’s Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802). A new version of that form has been required for inspections since April 1, 2026, and a completed form stays valid for up to five years if nothing material changes on the house (Florida OIR). Our sister company, Quality Real Estate Inspections, performs wind mitigation and 4-point inspections.

What homeowners should check before hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 – November 30 (NOAA). The calm months are the time to do this — not the week a storm is forming.

1. Find the dollar figure. Open the declarations page and write down the hurricane deductible in dollars and the AOP deductible.
2. Check it against savings. Could you pay that amount within weeks after a storm? If not, ask for quotes at a lower deductible and compare the premium difference.
3. Check the lender’s limit. Lenders set their own maximums. For example, Fannie Mae’s guide for 1–4 unit homes caps each separate deductible, including windstorm, at 5% of the coverage amount. Your loan officer can confirm the rule for your loan — Quality Real Estate Finance explains common loan requirements.
4. Look for the inflation-guard note. If Coverage A rises each year, your hurricane deductible in dollars rises too.
5. Get or update a wind mitigation report. It may qualify the home for a lower hurricane deductible or a discount. Check whether your current form is older than five years or predates work like a new roof or shutters.
6. Remember flood is separate. Homeowners policies generally do not cover flooding or storm surge. Flood insurance through the NFIP usually has a 30-day waiting period unless it is bought in connection with a loan closing (FEMA).
7. Don’t wait for a watch. Many insurers stop writing new policies and coverage increases once a tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning is issued for any part of Florida, and each insurer sets its own rules. Changes need to be made well before a storm appears.
8. Keep records. Photograph the home now, save receipts for storm repairs, and report hurricane damage even if it is below the deductible.

For Realtors: where this shows up in a transaction

• Quote early. Have buyers request homeowners quotes during the inspection period, and ask for the 2% and 5% options side by side so they see both the premium and the out-of-pocket risk.
• Explain the number in dollars. “2%” sounds small; “$7,000 before insurance pays” is clearer.
• Use the inspection reports. A 4-point and wind mitigation report can help the buyer’s insurance quote, and the wind mit can open up a lower hurricane deductible.
• Watch the calendar. For closings between June and November, bind coverage early so a storm watch doesn’t freeze the policy right before closing.

Looking for a listing partner or help with a purchase? Quality Real Estate Services is our brokerage hub.

FAQ

Is the hurricane deductible a percentage of my home’s value?

No. It is a percentage of the dwelling coverage limit (Coverage A) on your policy, which can differ from the market or sale price. The dollar amount must be printed on your declarations page.

Does the hurricane deductible apply to a tropical storm?

Florida’s hurricane deductible is tied to a storm the National Hurricane Center has declared a hurricane, within the warning-to-72-hours window above. For other windstorm losses, check your policy’s wording or ask your agent.

If two hurricanes hit in one year, do I pay two deductibles?

Not in full, if you stay with the same insurer or group. For the second storm you pay the greater of what’s left of your hurricane deductible or your all-other-perils deductible.

Where can I get help with a dispute?

The Florida Department of Financial Services consumer helpline is 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

Review your hurricane deductible with a licensed agent

Quality RE Insurance can walk you or your clients through hurricane deductible options and compare quotes side by side. We will show you the dollar amounts, not just percentages. Request a Florida property insurance quote or call 407-476-6667.

Tariq AbouAdma, Insurance Agent NPN 16445652 · Quality RE Insurance LLC · 336 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 274-229, Casselberry, FL 32707.

This article is general information about Florida law, not legal advice or a coverage determination. Your policy’s terms control; coverage, deductibles and premiums vary by insurer and property.

Sources

• Section 627.701, Florida Statutes
• Section 627.4025, Florida Statutes
• Florida DFS — Florida’s Hurricane Deductible
• Florida OIR — Wind Mitigation Resources
• FEMA — Myths and Facts About Flood Insurance
• Fannie Mae Selling Guide B7-3-02
• NOAA — Tropical Cyclone Climatology