Florida homeowners insurance covers your home structure, other structures on your property, your personal belongings, additional living expenses if you are displaced, personal liability, and medical payments to others. It does not cover flood damage, sinkhole damage beyond catastrophic collapse, or normal wear and tear. Those are the headlines. The details matter significantly.
The Six Coverage Categories in a Standard HO3 Policy
Dwelling Coverage (Coverage A)
Dwelling coverage pays to repair or rebuild the physical structure of your home if it is damaged by a covered peril. Covered perils in an HO3 policy include fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, explosion, riot, aircraft, vehicles, smoke, vandalism, theft, falling objects, weight of ice or snow, and sudden accidental water discharge from plumbing or appliances.
The most important thing about dwelling coverage in Florida is the hurricane deductible. Wind damage from a named storm is covered, but subject to a separate deductible that is typically 2% to 5% of your insured dwelling value rather than a flat dollar amount. On a home insured for $400,000 with a 3% hurricane deductible, you pay the first $12,000 of wind damage out of pocket.
Other Structures (Coverage B)
Other structures coverage pays for damage to detached structures on your property including fences, detached garages, sheds, and pools. The standard limit is 10% of your dwelling coverage amount. On a $400,000 dwelling policy that is $40,000 for all other structures combined.
Personal Property (Coverage C)
Personal property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your belongings including furniture, clothing, electronics, and appliances. The standard limit is 50% to 70% of dwelling coverage. Coverage for high-value items like jewelry, art, and collectibles is typically capped at low sublimits and may require separate scheduled endorsements.
Loss of Use (Coverage D)
If a covered loss makes your home uninhabitable, loss of use coverage pays for temporary housing and additional living expenses while repairs are made. The standard limit is 20% to 30% of dwelling coverage.
Personal Liability (Coverage E)
Personal liability coverage pays if someone is injured on your property or if you cause damage to someone else's property and they sue you. Standard limits are $100,000 to $300,000. For homeowners with pools, trampolines, dogs, or significant assets to protect, higher limits and a personal umbrella policy are worth considering.
Medical Payments (Coverage F)
Medical payments coverage pays for minor injuries to guests on your property regardless of fault. Standard limits are $1,000 to $5,000. This coverage is designed to handle small claims without litigation.
Out-of-pocket hurricane deductible on a $400,000 Florida home with a 3% wind deductible — before insurance pays a single dollar.
What Florida Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover
Flood damage is the most significant exclusion. Standard policies explicitly exclude all flood-related losses. A separate flood insurance policy is required. This is not a technicality — it is the reason thousands of Florida homeowners have faced devastating uninsured losses after storms.
Sinkhole damage beyond catastrophic ground cover collapse requires a separate endorsement. Florida law requires insurers to offer this coverage but it is not included by default.
Normal wear and tear, maintenance neglect, and gradual deterioration are excluded. Insurance covers sudden, accidental losses — not the results of deferred maintenance.
Pest damage from termites, rodents, and similar infestations is excluded from all standard policies.