The flood-insurance requirement.
The original update described a phased requirement for Citizens policyholders to obtain flood insurance. Citizens’ official guidance distinguishes personal residential policies with wind coverage inside a Special Flood Hazard Area from those outside it. It also identifies exceptions, including condominium unit-owner policies, tenant contents policies and policies excluding windstorm or hail coverage.
For homes outside the Special Flood Hazard Area, the 2023 article summarized the rollout below. These are the original phase-in milestones—not a substitute for the requirements and documents that apply to a particular policy today.
- January 1, 2024: dwelling coverage of $600,000 or more.
- January 1, 2025: dwelling coverage of $500,000 or more.
- January 1, 2026: dwelling coverage of $400,000 or more.
- January 1, 2027: remaining applicable policies, regardless of dwelling value.
What does “dwelling coverage” mean?
The important figure is your home’s Dwelling Coverage—usually labeled Coverage A on your homeowners policy—not its sale price, online estimate or appraised market value. These amounts measure different things. Locate Coverage A on your declarations page before comparing your policy with a threshold.
The threshold that triggers a requirement and the amount of flood insurance you must carry are separate questions. Citizens specifies coverage limits and documentation requirements; have your agent confirm those details for your policy.
Consider private flood-insurance options.
You may be able to consider NFIP coverage or a private flood policy. Compare limits, deductibles, exclusions and effective dates, not just the premium. A lower quote is not necessarily equivalent protection, and any replacement must meet applicable Citizens and lender requirements.
Flood risk is not limited to a map label.
Floods can occur outside mapped high-risk areas. Most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, so a flood-insurance conversation can be useful even when coverage is not required for your situation.
Gather your declarations page, renewal notice and any letters from Citizens. Confirm the action deadline, required proof of coverage and policy effective date before renewal. Keep the final coverage confirmation with your home records. The linked Citizens page was reviewed on September 11, 2026; use it for updates after that date.
A few useful answers
Before your next step.
Should I use my home’s market value for the phase-in threshold?
No. Citizens’ guidance uses the applicable dwelling coverage amount, Coverage A. Your policy documents and current requirements determine how it applies.
Does every Citizens policy have the same requirement?
No. Policy type, wind coverage, flood-hazard location and the applicable policy date matter. Citizens’ official page explains the categories and exceptions.
General real estate guidance. Property-specific decisions may require advice from your agent, lender, insurer, attorney or qualified contractor. This is not a market report or a substitute for professional evaluation.