Florida’s Citizens Is Deferring Flood Coverage Proof While NFIP Is Shut Down

Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is deferring the required proof of flood insurance while the federal government shutdown continues and the National Flood Insurance Program is in limbo.

“Citizens will accept applications and defer the required proof of flood coverage and the Policyholder Affirmation Regarding Flood Insurance (CIT FW01), effective October 1, 2025, until the NFIP resumes normal business operations,” the corporation said in a bulletin last week.

Florida lawmakers in 2022 required most Citizens policyholders, in a phased-in schedule, to also obtain flood insurance. The idea, supporters of the law said, was to help push homeowners back to the primary market and help protect Citizens from legal disputes over wind-versus-water damage. Condominium owners in high-rise buildings were exempted from the mandate in 2023.

Citizens, still the state’s largest property insurer, noted that as of this year, dwellings with replacement costs of $500,000 or more are required to obtain flood insurance. By January 1, 2026, properties valued at $400,000 must have flood coverage. By 2027, all Citizens-covered structures will need flood coverage, according to the law.

And most flood insurance comes through the National Flood Insurance Program, meaning that coverage has been suspended for new and renewal policies, at least until the federal government is funded by Congress and the NFIP is re-authorized. Private flood coverage is still available.

Once NFIP resumes, insurance agents will have 10 business days to submit the proof-of-flood-coverage documents to Citizens, the insurer’s bulletin explained. If a policy’s cancellation or nonrenewal effective date is October 1, 2025, or later, agents can submit a request to reinstate via the Flood and Affirmation Document Deferral Form. The form must be submitted prior to the cancellation or nonrenewal effective date.

The bulletin can be seen here.

Photo: Flooding in North Miami in June 2024. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Related: Insurance Industry Presses Congress to Act on NFIP

Topics Florida Flood