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Citizens plus flood vs. a private quote
A private offer that looks higher than Citizens can cost less once you add the flood policy Citizens will require. Citizens itself makes that point, because private companies are not required to demand flood insurance as a condition of eligibility.
What Citizens requires
Citizens does not sell flood insurance and is not authorized to do so. After Hurricane Ian, the Florida Legislature required Personal Lines residential policyholders who have wind coverage to obtain flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier authorized to write flood, so they can rebuild after water damage that a Citizens policy does not cover.
Starting with renewals on or after January 1, 2027, all remaining Personal Lines residential Citizens policies that are required to obtain flood insurance must have it in place to renew. Condominium unit-owner policies are exempt. The requirement applies to policies that include wind coverage.
A new flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program normally takes 30 days to take effect, with a few exceptions, such as when the purchase is tied to making, increasing, extending, or renewing a loan. If you need flood coverage to renew a Citizens policy on or after January 1, 2027, buy it early enough that the waiting period has ended before your renewal. Private flood policies can use a different waiting period, so confirm that timing with the insurer. See the Florida Chief Financial Officer's flood insurance FAQ.
Earlier phases, described on Citizens' own page, already applied to:
- Existing Personal Lines residential policyholders (except condo unit-owner policies) in designated FEMA flood hazard areas, at renewal on or after July 1, 2023.
- January 1, 2024: structures with a dwelling replacement cost of $600,000 or more.
- January 1, 2025: dwelling replacement cost of $500,000 or more.
- January 1, 2026: dwelling replacement cost of $400,000 or more.
- January 1, 2027: all other Personal Lines residential property insured by Citizens that is required to obtain flood insurance.
Citizens notes that private insurance companies are not required to request flood insurance for eligibility, "so a private insurance offer that may seem more expensive than a Citizens policy may end up being less expensive when the additional flood policy is factored into the overall cost."
How to use the numbers
Enter your Citizens premium (or a quote) and a flood quote from NFIP or a private flood carrier. Then enter the private homeowners quote. Leave the checkbox unchecked to match Citizens' comparison (flood required on the Citizens side only). Check it if you would buy flood either way, in which case the flood cost cancels out and you are comparing the two homeowners premiums.
The Citizens premium default of $3,202 is the statewide average approved premium for Citizens multiperil HO-3 policies in Citizens' 2026 approved rate-change-by-county tables ($3,506 current average, -8.7%, $3,202 approved; 337,025 policies). That is not the all-personal-lines combined statewide average, which is $2,943 current and $2,768 approved (-5.9%). Your county and policy form will differ. The flood default of $1,200 is an assumption for illustration only; NFIP Risk Rating 2.0 and private flood prices vary widely by building and flood risk. Replace it with a real quote. We do not invent a flood premium from your ZIP Code.
Shop both sides with a licensed agent before a 2027 renewal. Related: county market averages from OIR (those averages mix private carriers and Citizens).
Sources
- Florida Chief Financial Officer: Flood Insurance Coverage FAQs (a new NFIP flood policy normally has a 30-day waiting period before it takes effect, with exceptions that include a purchase in connection with making, increasing, extending, or renewing a loan; the FAQ applies specifically to NFIP policies)
- Citizens Property Insurance: New Flood Requirements Begin January 1 (Personal Lines residential policies with wind coverage, except condominium unit-owner policies, must carry NFIP or authorized private flood insurance to remain eligible, phased in by flood zone and dwelling replacement cost, then for all remaining required policies on renewals on or after January 1, 2027; Citizens does not sell flood insurance; private insurers are not required to request flood insurance for eligibility)
- Citizens: 2026 Multiperil Rates to Drop Statewide (March 4, 2026) (OIR-approved homeowners multiperil rates fall an average of 8.8% in 2026, with at least a 2% cut for all Citizens Personal Lines policyholders; homeowners wind-only an average 5.5% reduction in this release; new business July 1, 2026, renewals at the next renewal)
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Property Insurance Stability Report (July 1, 2026) (average homeowners and condo premiums by county from the Market Intelligence Report as of March 31, 2026: total premium divided by policies in force, separately for policies including wind and excluding wind; the report notes actual premiums vary by company, insured value, deductibles and terms, and that the average homeowners premium including wind decreased in 51 counties from the January report)
- Citizens: 2026 Approved Rate Changes by County (official tables: all personal lines combined statewide current average $2,943 and approved $2,768, -5.9%; multiperil HO-3 statewide current average $3,506 and approved $3,202, -8.7%)
Common questions
Does every Citizens policyholder need flood insurance in 2027?
Every Personal Lines residential Citizens policy that includes wind coverage must have flood insurance to renew on or after January 1, 2027, except condominium unit-owner policies, which are exempt. Earlier phases already applied by flood zone and by dwelling replacement cost.
Do private Florida insurers require flood insurance too?
Citizens says private insurance companies are not required to request flood insurance for eligibility. You may still want flood coverage, because a homeowners policy typically excludes flood and storm surge.
Can I buy flood insurance from Citizens?
No. Citizens does not offer flood insurance and is not authorized to do so. Flood coverage comes from NFIP or an authorized private flood insurer.
When should I buy flood insurance for a 2027 Citizens renewal?
A new flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program normally takes 30 days to take effect, with a few exceptions, such as when the purchase is tied to making, increasing, extending, or renewing a loan. Buy early enough that the waiting period has ended before a January 1, 2027 or later Citizens renewal. Private flood policies can use a different waiting period, so confirm that timing with the insurer. See the Florida Chief Financial Officer's flood insurance FAQ.