When your home suffers water damage, one of the first questions you might ask is: Is it covered by my policy? But here’s the tricky part: Not all water damage is created equal. While some causes of water damage are covered by your homeowners policy, others – like flooding – are not. Many homeowners ask, Is flood covered by homeowners insurance in Florida? It’s a critical question, especially as storms intensify across the state. And if you’re not prepared, the difference can cost you thousands.
Let’s walk through what is and isn’t covered by your Florida Peninsula homeowners insurance policy, and how you can protect your home from one of the most misunderstood water threats: water backup into the home.
Understanding What Counts as Flooding
A flood isn’t just “a lot of water.” In insurance terms, a flood means rising water from outside your home. If the water touches the ground before entering your home – no matter how it gets in – it’s considered flooding.
Examples of flooding (not covered by homeowners insurance) include when:
- Storm surge from a hurricane pushes seawater into your living room
- A heavy rainstorm causes neighborhood streets to flood, and the water seeps in through your doors
- A nearby canal or lake overflows during a tropical system or heavy rain
- Excessive rainfall leads to pooling water around your home, which eventually seeps inside
In any of these cases, your standard homeowners insurance won’t cover the damage – because it’s considered a flood loss. To protect against this, you’ll need a separate flood insurance policy, typically through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurance provider. This is why it’s so important to understand the answer to Is flood covered by homeowners insurance in Florida – because the damage from rising water almost always requires a separate policy.
When Water Damage Is Covered
The good news? Not all water damage is flood-related. Knowing what counts as flood damage – and what doesn’t – is essential if you’re trying to answer the question, Is flood covered by homeowners insurance in Florida? If the source of the water is inside your home or comes through a covered peril, your homeowners policy is likely to step in.
Covered scenarios usually include:
- A pipe bursts behind your wall and floods your living room.
- A rainstorm breaks a window or damages your roof, and water comes in.
- Your washing machine or dishwasher leaks, damaging floors or cabinets.
- A sudden AC overflow results in water damage (if not due to negligence).
In these cases, damage is considered sudden and accidental – and this is key. Gradual damage, lack of maintenance, or negligence may not be covered.
Flood Zones Are Not Just a Coastal Concern
Many homeowners assume they're safe from flooding if they don’t live near the coast – but this is a risky misconception. Flooding can happen anywhere. From coastal communities to inland neighborhoods and even the northernmost counties, no area is immune. In fact, more than 40% of all flood claims come from homes outside high-risk flood zones, according to the NFIP.
Florida’s flat terrain and frequent heavy rain only increase the chance your home may be exposed to floodwaters. And while your policy may cover certain types of water damage, is flood covered by homeowners insurance in Florida? As we've explained earlier – it's not. This is why, even if your home is outside a high-risk flood zone, purchasing separate flood insurance is a smart move. It’s the best way to protect your home and your finances before the next storm hits.
A Special Case: Water Back-Up
There’s one gray area homeowners often overlook: water or sewage backing up through household drains. During a heavy summer downpour, for example, storm drains in the street near your home could become overwhelmed, allowing household wastewater to back up through a shower or floor drain.
Back-ups like these don’t involve rising water from the outside – and they aren’t caused by a burst pipe inside the home. This leaves many homeowners wondering, Is flood covered by homeowners insurance in Florida? And just as importantly: What about water coming up through your own drains – is it covered by my homeowners insurance?
The short answer is no – unless you’ve added Water Backup and Sump Overflow coverage to your policy. This optional endorsement, offered by Florida Peninsula Insurance Company since 2015, provides up to $5,000 in coverage for direct physical loss caused by water backing up through drains, sewer lines, or sump systems.
This coverage is not included with your policy automatically, but for just $25 per year, this add-on can mean the difference between a small inconvenience and a significant out-of-pocket cleanup.
Here’s what else you should know:
- Water backup and sump overflow coverage can be added to all Florida Peninsula policies, except the Select program (those policies assumed out of Citizens).
- Water backup and sump overflow coverage is also included as part of our platinum premium package, which bundles increased limits across several coverages – and can also be added to your base Florida Peninsula homeowners policy for a nominal fee.
- A $250 special deductible applies to any water back-up claim.
- Coverage only applies when the loss is not caused by negligence.
Quick Recap: What’s Covered vs What’s Not
Still unsure about what’s covered and what’s not? If you’ve been asking yourself, Is flood covered by homeowners insurance in Florida, the following quick side-by-side comparison may help.
Take Action Before the Next Storm
If you’ve been asking yourself, Is flood covered by homeowners insurance in Florida? – now you know: It’s not.
This is why the best time to evaluate your home protection is before the next storm hits. Flooding, water backup, and other causes of water damage in the home can happen fast – but with the right insurance, your recovery doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Here’s how to prepare:
- Consider purchasing a separate flood insurance policy.
- Add water back up and sump overflow coverage to your Florida Peninsula homeowners policy — or add our platinum premium package for even broader protections.
Not sure what coverage you already have, or what you may need? Talk to your agent or get a quote online – and make sure your policy is built to protect you from all types of water damage.
