Flood insurance in Florida

Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for Florida, county by county, from official FEMA records.

Policies as of 5 September 2026Source: FEMA OpenFEMA
Active flood policies
1,773,384
NFIP policies in force
Average yearly premium
$1,484
$214 above the US average
Claims paid since 1978
$19.4B
across 448,618 claims
Policies in high-risk zones
69%
zones A and V, where known

Flood claims paid per year

NFIP claims paid in Florida, 2000–2026

The three costliest years. The worst was 2024, with $7.9 billion paid on 80,446 claims.

Insured buildings by flood zone

Zone V / VE7%
Coastal high-hazard areas with wave action. Flood insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone A / AE63%
High-risk areas with a 1% chance of flooding each year. Insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone X, B, C31%
Moderate to low risk. Insurance is optional, and policies are usually much cheaper.

Zone not reported for 46% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.

Costliest flood events

Named events by NFIP claims paid in Florida

EventYearClaimsPaid
Hurricane Helene202454,676$6.5 billion
Hurricane Ian202247,556$4.9 billion
Hurricane Milton202421,663$1.2 billion
Hurricane Irma201728,756$985.5 million
Hurricane Ivan200412,934$966.7 million

Flood insurance by county

Counties in Florida with detailed pages, by number of policies. 17 smaller counties are included in the state totals.

CountyPoliciesAvg premiumClaims since 1978Paid
Miami-Dade County361,415$1,23462,029$855.8 million
Broward County232,477$98835,049$457.9 million
Lee County133,057$2,37248,496$4.0 billion
Pinellas County131,438$2,38851,779$3.8 billion
Palm Beach County130,762$93710,758$72.3 million
Collier County99,388$2,23914,773$1.1 billion
Hillsborough County64,175$1,61818,556$1.2 billion
Sarasota County60,646$1,88014,415$856.6 million
Volusia County47,583$95712,577$582.1 million
Brevard County42,830$9715,690$69.1 million
Charlotte County40,306$2,21111,697$475.5 million
Manatee County37,624$1,62711,389$650.6 million
St. Johns County32,277$1,1377,639$252.4 million
Bay County31,618$1,0619,005$337.5 million
Monroe County31,386$2,67627,430$714.0 million
Duval County27,697$1,0396,064$214.7 million
Pasco County24,845$1,36814,544$692.7 million
Indian River County19,216$1,3453,349$67.0 million
St. Lucie County18,944$9973,988$84.7 million
Okaloosa County18,941$1,3378,226$283.1 million
Escambia County17,291$1,19316,499$731.9 million
Walton County17,272$8973,174$68.5 million
Orange County16,972$5992,271$73.1 million
Martin County14,041$1,1512,631$40.0 million
Santa Rosa County11,414$86210,439$527.5 million
Flagler County10,659$1,0872,153$78.4 million
Osceola County9,149$5661,032$25.0 million
Nassau County8,868$1,042845$12.7 million
Polk County7,739$5551,671$45.8 million
Seminole County7,261$7121,562$54.0 million
Citrus County5,968$2,1627,076$384.9 million
Clay County4,204$8921,744$76.3 million
Lake County3,946$642470$7.3 million
Hernando County3,768$1,3653,245$138.4 million
Marion County3,742$566250$6.0 million
Sumter County3,016$521123$1.5 million
Alachua County2,871$755309$8.8 million
Leon County2,675$8751,015$11.9 million
Franklin County2,278$2,3312,866$46.6 million
Gulf County1,717$1,4971,717$94.7 million
Okeechobee County1,320$854295$1.9 million
Wakulla County1,245$2,1641,554$34.4 million
Putnam County1,195$1,164621$10.7 million
Highlands County1,012$490202$2.6 million
Levy County932$2,2831,316$55.3 million
Hendry County750$1,012132$742 thousand
Columbia County693$800338$7.5 million
Dixie County567$1,701916$21.4 million
Taylor County558$1,779693$37.4 million

Common questions

How much does flood insurance cost in Florida?

The average NFIP flood insurance policy in Florida costs about $1,484 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.

How many homes have flood insurance in Florida?

There are about 1,773,384 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in Florida, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.

How often does Florida flood?

Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in Florida have filed 448,618 flood claims, with $19.4 billion paid out. 190,644 of those claims were in the last 10 years.

Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?

No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.

How long until a new flood policy starts?

NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.

How to get flood insurance

Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.