Florida Insurance Claim Laws
The statutes that govern your Florida property insurance claim — the 60-day prompt-pay deadline, public adjuster fee caps, Valued Policy Law, matching, and the 2022 reforms that changed everything.
By Dependable Claims Specialists Public Adjusters · DFS Firm License #W820363
Quick Answer
After 2022, Florida insurers must pay or deny most residential property claims within 60 days (§627.70131). Public adjuster fees are capped at 20%, or 10% for declared-emergency claims filed within a year (§626.854). The Valued Policy Law protects total losses, and matching rules protect against mismatched repairs. Bad-faith claims go through the Civil Remedy Notice process with an attorney.
The Florida Claim Clock (Post-2022)
The 2022 reforms tightened the deadlines insurers must meet on Florida property claims.
Acknowledge the claim
After 2022 reforms, the insurer must review and acknowledge communications about the claim promptly — generally within 7 days (Fla. Stat. §627.70131).
Pay or deny
The insurer generally must pay or deny a residential property claim (in whole or part) within 60 days after receiving notice of the claim, subject to limited exceptions (§627.70131).
Supplemental / reopened
A supplemental or reopened claim generally must be filed within 3 years of the date of loss; hurricane claims have their own notice window (§627.70132).
Public adjuster fees in Florida are capped at 20% (10% in a declared-emergency year). Estimate yours with our fee calculator.
The Statutes That Govern Your Florida Claim
Prompt-Pay Statute — §627.70131
Fla. Stat. §627.70131
Following the 2022 reforms, Florida insurers must acknowledge claim communications within about 7 days and pay or deny most residential property claims within 60 days of notice (reduced from 90). Interest may accrue on amounts paid late.
Public Insurance Adjusters — §626.854
Fla. Stat. §626.854(11)
Public adjuster fees are capped at 20% of the claim payment for most claims (b)(2), and 10% for claims based on a declared state of emergency that are made within one year of the declaration (b)(1). The fee cannot be charged on the deductible (c) or on payments the insurer already made for the same loss (a).
Valued Policy Law — §627.702
Fla. Stat. §627.702
When a building is a total loss from a covered peril, Florida’s Valued Policy Law generally requires the insurer to pay the face amount of the policy on the building — the stated dwelling limit — rather than relitigate the building’s value after a total loss.
Matching / Uniform Appearance — §626.9744
Fla. Stat. §626.9744
When repairing or replacing damaged property, the insurer must account for matching so the repaired area reasonably matches the surrounding line, side, room, or continuous area — you should not be left with mismatched roofing, siding, or flooring.
Mediation — §627.7015
Fla. Stat. §627.7015
Florida offers a mandatory mediation program as a precondition for certain residential property insurance disputes — a lower-cost step before appraisal or litigation.
Civil Remedy Notice & 2022 Reforms
Fla. Stat. §624.155; SB 2-D / SB 2-A
Bad-faith claims proceed through the Civil Remedy Notice process under §624.155 — attorney work, not public adjusting. The 2022 special-session reforms (SB 2-D, SB 2-A) eliminated one-way attorney fees for property claims and sharply restricted Assignment of Benefits (AOB).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an insurance company have to pay a claim in Florida?
What is the public adjuster fee cap in Florida?
What is Florida’s Valued Policy Law?
Did Florida change its insurance laws in 2022?
Does a public adjuster handle bad-faith claims in Florida?
Statutes That Touch DCS Work
Texas (home base) and Florida statutes that govern public adjusting, appraisal, prompt-pay, and policyholder rights. DCS reviews and applies these statutes in the ordinary course of adjusting. Legal questions belong to a licensed attorney in your state.
Texas (Home Base)
DCS Firm License #3134924
- TX Ins. Code Ch. 4102. Public adjusters. Caps PA fees at 10% of recovery for public adjusting work. Requires written contract on TDI-approved form. Three-business-day cancellation right.
- TX Ins. Code Ch. 542. Prompt Payment of Claims Act. Acknowledge / decide / pay deadlines, 18% statutory interest plus attorney fees on violations.
- TX Ins. Code Ch. 542A. Pre-suit notice for weather-related property claims. Attorney work; outside the public adjusting role.
- TX Ins. Code Ch. 2210 (TWIA). Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. Statutory wind/hail insurer of last resort for 14 designated coastal counties and parts of Harris County.
- TX Ins. Code Ch. 2211 (TFPA). Texas FAIR Plan Association. Statutory residential insurer of last resort, statewide availability for policyholders unable to obtain voluntary-market coverage.
- TX Ins. Code §541. Unfair Settlement Practices. Statutory cause of action; attorney work.
- License authority: Texas Department of Insurance (TDI).
- Statute of limitations: Generally 2 years for property claims (varies by policy and loss type).
Florida
DCS Firm License #W820363
- Fla. Stat. §626.854. Public adjusters. Caps PA fees at 20% of recovery for most claims, reduced to 10% during the first year following a state-declared emergency.
- Fla. Stat. §626.9744. Matching uniform appearance. Carriers must match the rest of the line, side, room, or other continuous area when repairing or replacing damaged property.
- Fla. Stat. §627.70131. Prompt-pay statute. Following 2022 reforms, the deadline to pay or deny most residential property claims was reduced to 60 days.
- Fla. Stat. §627.70132. Supplemental and reopened claims. Three years from date of loss; longer for hurricane claims.
- Fla. Stat. §627.7015. Mandatory mediation precondition for some residential property disputes.
- Fla. Stat. §624.155. Civil Remedy Notice (CRN). Attorney work; outside the public adjusting role.
- 2022 reforms (SB 2-D, SB 2-A). Eliminated one-way attorney fees for property claims; restricted Assignment of Benefits.
- License authority: Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS).
Important. This summary is general educational information, not legal advice. The application of any statute to a specific claim, the determination of whether a denial supports a statutory cause of action, and any pre-suit or litigation strategy are legal questions for a licensed attorney in your state. DCS Public Insurance Adjusters read and apply policy language in the ordinary course of adjusting (coverage parts, exclusions, endorsements, scope), but do not provide legal advice or pursue statutory remedies.
Educational Information - Not Legal Advice
The information on this page is for general educational purposes only. Dependable Claims Specialists is a licensed public adjusting firm - not a law firm. Public adjusters help policyholders inspect, document, evaluate, and negotiate property insurance claims, which includes reading and applying your policy in the ordinary course of adjusting (coverage parts, exclusions, endorsements, scope). We do not practice law and we do not provide legal advice. For legal opinions, demand letters, Chapter 542A pre-suit notices, statutory remedies under the Insurance Code, or litigation, consult a licensed attorney in your state. Texas public adjusters operate under TX Ins. Code Chapter 4102; Florida public adjusters operate under FL Statute §626.854.
Florida Claim? Know the New Rules.
A licensed Florida public adjuster will review your policy and your loss for free — and apply these statutes to your claim. No recovery, no fee.
