Home insurance in Jacksonville

Home insurance is not a requirement in Jacksonville, though lenders typically require it when you take out a mortgage to protect their financial interest in the property. Your lender may also require flood insurance if your home is located in a designated flood zone. 

Even if you aren't required to carry home insurance in Jacksonville, FL, consider maintaining a policy. It can help you cover the cost to repair or rebuild your property after a loss. Without coverage, you'll need to cover those expenses out of pocket. 

Given the risks of hurricanes, flooding, and aging home infrastructure in Jacksonville, homeowners should consider the following additional coverages:

• Flood insurance for flood and storm surge damage

• Water backup coverage for drain, sewer, or sump pump backups, which can be common in older homes or during heavy rains

• Ordinance or law coverage if you have an older home with outdated electrical, plumbing, or roofing, to pay for the extra cost of rebuilding to today’s building codes

• Extended replacement cost coverage to provide a cushion above your dwelling limit for inflation or sudden spikes in labor and materials

Home insurance in Jacksonville typically doesn’t cover:

• Earthquakes

• Sinkholes

• Animal or pest infestations

• Intentional damage

• Flooding and storm surges

• Maintenance and normal wear and tear

• Business activities

Though there's no one-size-fits-all approach to coverage, here are some factors to consider when determining how much home insurance you need in Jacksonville:

• Dwelling coverage should reflect the full replacement cost of your home (which usually differs from the market value), which may be higher due to rising construction costs in Jacksonville

• Personal property coverage should be enough to replace all belongings in case of a total loss.

• Loss of use coverage can cover the cost of temporary housing in case a covered claim renders your home uninhabitable

• Liability coverage limit that covers your assets and protects your finances against lawsuits from injuries or property damage on your premises

• Ordinance or law coverage helps cover the cost of rebuilding to current building codes, which can be a major factor in older neighborhoods and homes with aging systems

Insurance providers in Jacksonville take into account several local and property-specific elements when setting rates, including:

• Frequency of severe weather events such as windstorms and occasional coastal storms.

• Roof condition, roofing material, and wind/impact resilience.

• Age, structural condition, and construction quality of the dwelling.

• Crime rates in your ZIP code.

• Distance to emergency services, including fire stations and hydrants.

• Your credit-based insurance score.

• Local claims history, including prior losses associated with your home or neighborhood.

The average cost of home insurance in Florida is $9,462^* per year for a property with a replacement cost value of $350,000. Jacksonville residents may pay more than the state average, especially those who live along the coast. Heavy rains, Atlantic hurricanes, tropical storm winds, and insurance fraud schemes generally contribute to higher-than-average premiums in Jacksonville. 

However, home insurance premiums depend on a range of factors, so the best way to determine how much you'll pay for coverage is to get a quote.

^{*Based on data from the Consumer Federation of America}