Florida condo owner guide
Florida condo insurance, explained
Where the association's master policy stops, where your HO-6 starts, and how much loss assessment coverage to carry in Florida.
Condo insurance in Florida is really two policies working together. The association buys a master policy on the building and common elements. You buy an HO-6 unit-owner policy for everything inside your walls, your belongings, your liability, and your share of any assessment the association passes along. Most coverage gaps come from assuming the master policy reaches further into the unit than it does.
Master policy vs. your HO-6
| What's damaged | Association master policy | Your HO-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Roof, exterior walls, structure | Covered | Not covered |
| Common areas, elevators, pool | Covered | Not covered |
| Drywall, paint, flooring in your unit | Usually not | Covered |
| Cabinets, counters, built-ins, upgrades | Usually not | Covered |
| Appliances and personal property | Not covered | Covered |
| Liability for injuries inside your unit | Not covered | Covered |
| Hotel and living costs after a loss | Not covered | Covered (loss of use) |
| Your share of an association assessment | Not covered | Covered (loss assessment) |
Your condo declaration controls the exact dividing line. Read the section on insurance responsibility before you set your interior limit — some Florida associations insure original fixtures, others stop at bare studs.
Loss assessment: the coverage Florida owners underbuy
When a hurricane damages a building, the association pays its deductible first — commonly 2% to 5% of the insured building value — and then bills the owners. Florida law requires a condo unit-owner policy to include at least $2,000 of loss assessment coverage, which is nowhere near a real post-storm assessment. Many owners raise it to $25,000 or $50,000, which usually costs very little compared to writing a five-figure check after a named storm.
How to set your HO-6 limits
- Coverage A (interior / building property): the cost to rebuild your finishes and built-ins, not the market value of the unit. A common starting point is roughly 20% of the unit's replacement value, then adjust for upgrades.
- Coverage C (personal property): enough to replace furniture, electronics, and clothing — and ask for replacement cost, not actual cash value.
- Coverage E (liability): $300,000 is typical; $500,000 costs little more and matters if you rent the unit out.
- Loss assessment: size it against your association's hurricane deductible, not the $2,000 statutory minimum.
- Deductibles: you'll have a standard all-other-perils deductible and a separate hurricane deductible, usually 2% of your Coverage A limit.
Flood and condos in Florida
The association typically carries flood on the building when the property is in a special flood hazard area. Unit owners buy contents-only flood coverage for what's inside. Ground-floor and first-floor units in AE and VE zones should treat that as a requirement rather than an upgrade. If you're not sure of your zone, our Florida flood zones guide explains what each letter means for price and requirements.
What drives your Florida condo premium
- County and distance to coast — wind exposure is the biggest single factor.
- Year built and roof age of the building, plus any wind-mitigation features.
- Unit floor — higher floors price better for water intrusion, worse for wind in some programs.
- Interior replacement cost you select for Coverage A.
- Whether wind is in the master policy or has to be written on your HO-6.
- Claims history at the unit and at the building.
- Occupancy — owner-occupied, seasonal, or rented changes eligibility and rate.
Frequently asked questions
What is an HO-6 policy in Florida?
An HO-6 is the unit-owner condo policy. It insures the interior of your unit — drywall in, cabinets, flooring, fixtures, built-ins — plus your personal property, personal liability, loss of use, and loss assessment coverage for your share of an association deductible or shortfall.
Doesn't the condo association's master policy already cover me?
The master policy covers the building shell and common areas as defined by your declaration. In Florida it typically stops at the unfinished interior surfaces, so your interior finishes, upgrades, contents, and liability inside the unit are yours to insure with an HO-6.
Is condo insurance required in Florida?
Not by state law, but a mortgage lender will require an HO-6 on a financed condo, and most Florida associations require unit owners to carry one under their governing documents.
What is loss assessment coverage and how much do I need?
Loss assessment pays your share when the association charges owners for a covered loss, including its hurricane deductible. Florida law requires condo unit-owner policies to include at least $2,000 in loss assessment coverage; many owners buy $25,000 to $50,000 because association hurricane deductibles are commonly 2 to 5 percent of the building value.
How much does condo insurance cost in Florida?
Price depends on the county, year built, unit floor, interior replacement cost, deductibles, and whether wind is included in the master policy or in your own policy. Because the range is wide, the only reliable number is a real quote on your address — that is what 4quote.ai returns in seconds.
Do I need flood insurance on a condo?
If your building is in a special flood hazard area and you have a loan, the lender requires flood on the building, which the association usually carries. Unit owners still buy contents-only flood coverage, and ground-floor units in AE or VE zones should treat it as essential rather than optional.
Does an HO-6 cover hurricane damage?
Hurricane and windstorm may sit in the master policy, in your HO-6, or be excluded and sold separately depending on the carrier and the association structure. Florida wind coverage also carries its own separate hurricane deductible, usually 2 percent of the dwelling or unit limit.
Enter your address and unit number — we pull the building data and flood zone, then quote HO-6 and flood from carriers writing condos in Florida.
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