If your home is insured with Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Florida's state-backed insurer of last resort, a 2022 state law requires you to also carry flood insurance. The requirement has been phased in since 2023, and it reaches every Citizens personal residential policy on January 1, 2027.
Who has to carry flood insurance?
The requirement is based on where your home is and how much dwelling coverage your Citizens policy carries:
- Homes in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area: required for new policies since April 1, 2023, and renewals since July 1, 2023.
- Dwelling coverage of $600,000 or more: required since January 1, 2024.
- $500,000 or more: required since January 1, 2025.
- $400,000 or more: required since January 1, 2026.
- All other Citizens personal residential policies: required starting January 1, 2027.
What kind of flood policy counts?
Either a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy or a private flood policy can meet the requirement. Citizens sets minimum amounts of flood coverage, so the policy needs to be large enough, not just in place. We'll check that yours qualifies.
What happens if you don't have it?
If you don't show proof of flood coverage when it's required, you can lose eligibility for your Citizens policy at renewal. On Amelia Island, that would leave you looking for wind and homeowners coverage on short notice.
Don't wait until renewal
New NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start. If your Citizens renewal is coming up, start the flood quote at least a month ahead so the coverage is active in time.
You may have other options
Citizens isn't the only choice. As an independent agency, we can check whether a private carrier will write your home, and compare NFIP and private flood options either way. See our flood insurance page or read Do You Need Flood Insurance in Fernandina Beach?
This article is general information, not a substitute for your policy documents. Coverage varies by policy and carrier.