Does Citizens Property Insurance require flood insurance, and by when?

Yes, Florida law requires Citizens to make most Personal Residential policyholders with wind coverage carry flood insurance, and the phase-in reaches all such policies effective on or after January 1, 2027. Homes in FEMA high-risk zones have needed flood coverage since 2023, while homes outside those zones phase in by dwelling replacement cost. Citizens requires flood insurance on most Personal Residential policies that include wind coverage, phased in from 2023 through January 1, 2027. Homes in FEMA high-risk zones already need flood coverage to be insured by Citizens. Condo unit-owner policies and policies without wind coverage are exempt under the statute. Flood limits should match the Citizens dwelling limit, or the NFIP maximum the home is eligible for. Citizens does not sell flood insurance, so the policy must come from the NFIP or a private insurer.

Does Citizens Insurance Require Flood Insurance?

What is the Citizens flood insurance timeline?

Section 627.351(6)(aa), Florida Statutes, makes flood insurance a condition of Citizens coverage for personal lines residential risks and lets Citizens deny coverage to anyone who refuses to secure and maintain it. The requirement phased in on these dates:

Homes in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area: at issuance for new policies on or after April 1, 2023, and by renewal for policies renewing on or after July 1, 2023.
January 1, 2024: 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.[1][2]

Who is exempt, and how much flood coverage is needed?

The statute exempts policies that do not cover the peril of wind and policies written on a condominium unit owners form; Citizens' flood page also lists tenant content policies as not required. For dwelling policies, Citizens asks for flood limits equal to or greater than the policy's Coverage A (dwelling) amount, and if that is not available from the NFIP it accepts the maximum the insured is eligible for, which is $250,000 of Coverage A in the NFIP regular program as of 2026.

To show compliance, Citizens asks for the flood policy declarations page (or a pending application with proof of payment) plus a signed Policyholder Affirmation Regarding Flood Insurance, form CIT FW01.[1][2]

What does this mean if you are buying a home?

Citizens is barred by law from selling flood insurance, so the flood policy must come from the NFIP or a private insurer whose coverage meets the statute's minimum. If the home you are buying will be insured with Citizens, line up flood coverage before closing, because proof of flood coverage is part of the application when the requirement applies.

Citizens has also pointed out that private homeowners insurers are not required to ask for flood coverage, so a higher private quote may cost less overall once a separate flood premium is added to a Citizens quote. A licensed insurance agent can compare the full cost.[3][1][2][4]

Key takeaways

Citizens requires flood insurance on most Personal Residential policies that include wind coverage, phased in from 2023 through January 1, 2027.
Homes in FEMA high-risk zones already need flood coverage to be insured by Citizens.
Condo unit-owner policies and policies without wind coverage are exempt under the statute.
Flood limits should match the Citizens dwelling limit, or the NFIP maximum the home is eligible for.
Citizens does not sell flood insurance, so the policy must come from the NFIP or a private insurer.

Sources

Reviewed October 11, 2026. General real-estate information for Florida, not legal, tax, lending or insurance advice. Laws, rates and deadlines change — confirm property-specific facts with the agency cited, a Florida real-estate attorney, CPA or licensed insurance agent.