How to Read a Florida Homeowners Declarations Page

TL;DR: Your declarations page ("dec page") summarizes your homeowners policy in one or two pages. It lists your coverages, limits, deductibles, and premium. Reading it now, before a storm or fire, is one of the most useful things you can do as a Florida homeowner.

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What You Need

Before you sit down with this guide, grab a few things:

• Your current homeowners declarations page. It comes with your policy packet and is usually emailed as a PDF at renewal.
• A highlighter or a way to make notes.
• Last year's dec page if you have it. Comparing them side by side reveals any coverage changes your carrier made quietly at renewal.

If you cannot find your dec page, call your agent. At B & B Insurance Agency we send a copy any time a client asks, no waiting.

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Step 1: Confirm the Basics at the Top of the Page

The very top of your dec page has housekeeping information. Do not skip it.

Named insured. This is who the policy covers. If you recently married, divorced, or added a co-owner to the deed, make sure the name matches. A mismatch can complicate a claim.

Policy period. Two dates: the start and end of coverage. Florida homeowners policies typically run 12 months. If you are looking at this during hurricane season, verify the policy has not lapsed.

Property address. Obvious, but check it. Typos happen. A wrong zip code can affect your rating territory and your wind deductible calculation.

Carrier name and policy number. Write both on your phone. You will need the policy number the moment you call to report a claim.

Mortgagee clause. If you have a mortgage, your lender is listed here as an additional interest. This is normal. It means claim checks over a certain amount are made out jointly to you and the bank.

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Step 2: Understand the Coverage Letters

This is the section most homeowners skip, and it is the most important part of the page.

Florida homeowners policies follow a standard structure. The coverages are labeled A through F, sometimes with additional endorsements listed below.

Coverage A, Dwelling. This is the rebuild value of your home's structure. In Florida, this number should reflect current construction costs, not your purchase price or market value. After years of supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, rebuild costs here in Palm Beach County are significantly higher than they were even five years ago. If your Coverage A looks low, flag it. Underinsurance is one of the most common gaps I see.

Coverage B, Other Structures. This covers detached garages, fences, and sheds. It is typically set at 10% of Coverage A automatically. If you have a large detached garage or a pool enclosure, 10% may not be enough.

Coverage C, Personal Property. This covers your belongings: furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances. Look for two things here. First, the limit. Second, whether it says "Actual Cash Value" or "Replacement Cost." Actual Cash Value means depreciation is subtracted from your claim payment. Replacement Cost means you get what it costs to buy the item new today. The difference on a 5-year-old laptop or a 10-year-old sofa is significant.

Coverage D, Loss of Use. If your home is uninhabitable after a covered loss, this pays for your hotel and living expenses while repairs happen. In South Florida, hotel costs are not cheap. Check that this limit feels realistic for your family.

Coverage E, Personal Liability. This protects you if someone is injured on your property and sues you. Common limits are $100,000 or $300,000. For most homeowners, $100,000 is not a lot. I usually suggest at least $300,000, and a separate umbrella policy for anyone with real assets to protect.

Coverage F, Medical Payments to Others. This is a small no-fault coverage, typically $1,000 to $5,000, that pays a guest's minor medical bills regardless of fault. Think of it as goodwill coverage for a neighbor who trips on your step.

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Step 3: Read Every Deductible Line Carefully

Florida policies can have two or even three separate deductibles. This surprises a lot of people at claim time.

All-other-perils (AOP) deductible. This applies to most claims: fire, theft, water damage from a burst pipe, and so on. It is usually a flat dollar amount like $1,000 or $2,500.

Hurricane deductible. This is almost always a percentage, typically 2% or 5% of your Coverage A amount. On a home insured for $400,000, a 2% hurricane deductible means you pay the first $8,000 out of pocket before the carrier pays anything. A 5% deductible means $20,000. This is not a number to gloss over.

Wind/hail deductible. Some policies separate wind from hurricane. Read carefully to understand when each triggers.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation publishes consumer guides explaining how hurricane deductibles work under Florida law. It is worth a quick read if yours confuses you.

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Want a second look at your Florida homeowners coverage? Get a free home quote

Step 4: Check for Endorsements and Exclusions

Endorsements are modifications to your base policy. They can add coverage or remove it. They are listed on the dec page, usually as a separate section or a schedule of forms.

Endorsements that add coverage include things like:

• Replacement cost on personal property
• Ordinance or law coverage (pays to bring your rebuilt home up to current building codes)
• Scheduled personal property for jewelry, art, or electronics above the base limits
• Water backup coverage for sump pump or drain overflow

Endorsements that restrict coverage include:

• Roof payment schedule endorsements, which pay actual cash value on older roofs instead of replacement cost
• Mold exclusions or sublimits
• Animal liability exclusions

Here is what I would tell my own family: find the roof endorsement section and read it. Florida carriers have added roof schedules widely in recent years. If your roof is over 10 years old, you may be looking at a heavily depreciated claim payment even if you have replacement cost everywhere else.

Also, remember that a standard homeowners policy does not cover flood damage. That is a separate policy entirely. If you live anywhere near water in Palm Beach County, including areas that are not in a high-risk zone, you should at least review your options. Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier is the only way to cover rising water.

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Step 5: Verify Your Premium and Payment Information

The dec page lists your total annual premium, any discounts applied, and sometimes your payment schedule.

Look for:

Discounts. You may see credits for a monitored alarm, a newer roof, wind mitigation features, or bundling. If you added a security system and it is not reflected, tell your agent. Let your agent know so your policy reflects your current situation.

Surcharges. Occasionally a surcharge is added for a prior claim or a property condition. You deserve to know why it is there.

Mortgagee payment. If your lender pays the premium from escrow, confirm the amount matches what your mortgage servicer has on file. A mismatch can cause a lapse if the carrier does not receive the correct amount.

If your premium jumped significantly at renewal, an independent agent can compare coverage and pricing across multiple carriers, and that is exactly what we do at B & B Insurance Agency for homeowners across Lantana, West Palm Beach, and the rest of Palm Beach County.

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Common Mistakes

Assuming Coverage A equals your home's market value. Market value includes the land and reflects buyer demand. Rebuild cost is about materials and labor. They are rarely the same number.

Ignoring the hurricane deductible. Every year after a named storm, homeowners are shocked by how much they owe before the carrier steps in. Do the math now.

Not updating coverage after renovations. Added a new kitchen or a pool? Your Coverage A and liability exposure both changed. Your dec page has not updated itself.

Forgetting that flood is always separate. A homeowners policy will not pay for water that rises from outside. Always. The FEMA National Flood Insurance Program is a good starting point for understanding what flood coverage actually includes.

Overlooking the loss of use limit. Repairs in South Florida after a major storm can take many months. Make sure your Coverage D could actually sustain your family for a realistic repair timeline.

Not asking about renters coverage if you rent out a unit. Standard homeowners policies have restrictions when the home is rented. If you have a tenant, even short-term, talk to your agent. You might also want to suggest your tenant look at renters insurance to protect their own belongings.

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Bottom Line

Your declarations page is not fine print. It is the clearest summary of what you actually own in terms of insurance protection. Reading it once a year, at renewal, takes about 15 minutes and can help you avoid expensive surprises.

If something on your dec page does not make sense, that is not a sign you are not smart enough. It is a sign the language is unnecessarily confusing. Bring it to an agent who will explain it plainly.

At B & B Insurance Agency we have been helping Palm Beach County homeowners understand their policies since 1998. If you want a second set of eyes on your dec page, or if you are wondering whether your coverage limits still make sense, reach out to us. We compare coverage and pricing from multiple carriers, and we will tell you honestly what we see.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, most homeowners significantly underestimate their rebuild costs. A quick review of your Coverage A every year or two is one of the simplest ways to stay protected.

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Want a second look at your Florida homeowners coverage?

B & B Insurance compares coverage and pricing from multiple carriers, and we know Florida wind and flood rules cold.

Get a free home quote

Frequently asked questions

What is a declarations page in a homeowners policy?

The declarations page, or dec page, is a one or two page summary at the front of your homeowners policy. It lists your coverage limits, deductibles, named insured, policy period, and annual premium. Think of it as the receipt that proves what you bought.

What does Coverage A mean on a Florida homeowners policy?

Coverage A is the dwelling coverage, meaning the amount your policy will pay to rebuild your home's structure after a covered loss. In Florida, this should reflect current local construction costs, not your home's purchase price or market value. Rebuild costs in Palm Beach County have risen sharply, so it is worth reviewing this number every year or two.

Why does my Florida homeowners policy have two deductibles?

Florida law allows separate deductibles for hurricane losses and for all other covered perils. The hurricane deductible is typically a percentage of your Coverage A, often 2% or 5%, while the all-other-perils deductible is usually a flat dollar amount. On a high-value home, the hurricane deductible can easily be tens of thousands of dollars, so knowing it in advance matters.

Does my homeowners policy cover flood damage?

No. Standard homeowners policies in Florida explicitly exclude flood damage caused by water rising from outside the home. You need a separate flood insurance policy, either through the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier, to cover that risk. Many homeowners in Palm Beach County are surprised to learn this after a heavy rain event.

What should I do if my Coverage A seems too low?

Contact your agent and ask for an insurance-to-value review. An independent agent can use a rebuild cost estimator to see whether your current dwelling limit reflects today's construction costs in your area. If it is short, you can request a limit increase, though your premium will adjust accordingly.

How often should I review my declarations page?

At minimum, review it every year when your renewal arrives. You should also review it any time you complete a major renovation, add a structure like a pool or detached garage, or experience a change in occupancy such as renting out a unit. Coverage that was right two years ago may not be right today.