The first day
- Find the source and stop it, then write down the date you first saw the damage, because s. 627.70132 bars a claim not noticed within 1 year of the date of loss.
- Photograph and video the damage before any repair and again afterwards, as DFS's advocate page asks.
- Keep the damaged property if feasible, and keep all receipts.
- Report the claim and ask for the claim number; the insurer must acknowledge within 7 calendar days, and the Bill of Rights is due within 14 days of your first contact.
- Ask what your policy says about the source of your water, since DFS lists flooding, sewer backup and sump pump trouble among typical exclusions.
- Expect the insurer's itemized estimate within seven days of it being generated, and read it against the crew's scope.
Which water a Florida policy pays for
DFS's coverage page says homeowners insurance may cover water damage but will typically not cover damage caused by flooding. It lists sinkholes, a sewer backup or sump pump issue, and wear and tear or lack of maintenance among the items typically not covered. Flood insurance is a separate policy.
DFS names two endorsements. A Water Backup and Sump Discharge or Overflow endorsement adds the backup DFS says policies don't typically cover, and a Mold Coverage endorsement raises the mold limit to $25,000 or $50,000.
What water damage restoration costs in Florida (estimates, not quotes)
Our model puts a water damage job in Florida at $1,050 to $5,000 per job, an estimate and not a quote. Two Florida restoration companies, both in Orlando, publish a price; a range built from company prices needs five, so the estimate is widened to take those two in. The wage row is crew pay.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $1,050 to $5,000 per job | Built from 3 national published ranges, adjusted by the Florida hazardous materials removal worker wage ratio (0.80), then widened to take in the lowest and highest of the two Florida company prices for this job ($1,500 to $5,000). Two Florida restoration companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: small sample (2), national estimate joined with the company range. |
| Hazardous materials removal worker wage, Florida mean | $21.70 an hour (United States mean: $27.13) | BLS wage for May 2025 in the occupation we pair with restoration crews, so the ratio behind the estimate can be checked. |
Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (3 sources), adjusted by Florida's hazardous materials removal worker wage ratio to the US (0.80, BLS May 2025). Not a quote. Two Florida restoration companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Only two Florida companies publish a price we could count for this job, too few for a range of their own, so the range is our national estimate widened to take in their lowest and highest prices. Full method. Prices as of Oct 24, 2026.
The clock after you report
Acknowledgment comes first, within 7 calendar days under s. 627.70131. After proof-of-loss statements it must begin investigating within 7 days and complete any physical inspection within 30 days, and it pays or denies within 60 days of notice, with interest on late payments. Day 60 is the marker. DFS's guide says to expect a written denial or payment of the undisputed portion by then.
The 60 days pause during mediation, and when you don't provide requested material information within 10 days. Answering within those 10 days keeps the clock running.
What the first payment looks like
Where a dwelling is insured for replacement cost, section 627.7011(3)(a) requires the insurer to pay at least the actual cash value of the loss, less the deductible, up front. The rest follows as work is done. Law-and-ordinance cover can be limited to 25 or 50 percent of the dwelling limit. Without your signed refusal, the policy is deemed to include 25 percent.
If the answer is late or too low
The Bill of Rights lists free mediation of disputed claims through the DFS Division of Consumer Services, and DFS's guide says the insurer's written denial must carry notice of that right. The Consumer Helpline is 1-877-693-5236. A reopened claim must be noticed within 1 year of the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months.
Water damage that shouldn't wait
- Water is still entering, or rooms are wet through.
- Sewage is in the mix, or the source of the water is a mystery.
- A ceiling is sagging or a wall has gone soft.
- An old stain that has been dry since you noticed it; photograph it and tell your insurer before you repair it, because the notice period runs from the date of loss.
- Dry cosmetic damage, once the insurer has inspected.
Permits and licenses for drying and rebuilding
DBPR's construction license list has no water-damage or restoration category, so ask a drying company what license or registration it holds. Rebuilding is chapter 489 work. Look up the rebuild contractor's license on myfloridalicense.com before any deposit.
Since 1 July 2026, per city pages, s. 553.79 exempts a single-family owner or the owner's contractor from a building permit for work valued under $7,500. The exemption excludes flood hazard areas and electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work, needs a written request with the contract, and can't be met by splitting a project.
Ask which licenses your state requires for the work, and check them with your state's licensing office before anyone starts. A credential from a private body, such as IICRC, isn't a license.
Questions people ask
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage in Florida?
DFS says it may, but it will typically not cover damage caused by flooding. Sewer backup, sump pump trouble and wear and tear are on DFS's typical-exclusion list too. Your policy's wording decides.
How long can an insurer take to pay a water damage claim?
60 days after notice to pay or deny, with 7 calendar days to acknowledge. Late payments carry interest from the date notice was received, and the 60 days pause during mediation.
What is the deadline to report a water damage claim?
Notice must reach the insurer within 1 year after the date of loss. A supplemental claim has 18 months. For a hurricane, tornado, windstorm or severe-rain loss, the date of loss is the landfall or NOAA verification date.
Do I have to use my insurer's preferred contractor?
Your policy decides; the Bill of Rights tells you to check for managed repair provisions or optional preferred vendors first. Make that call before you sign a repair contract, not after.
What can I do if the insurer denies the claim?
DFS offers free mediation of disputed residential property claims. The insurer's written denial must tell you about it, and the Consumer Helpline is 1-877-693-5236.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (SOC 47-4041), Florida, mean hourly wage Read Oct 24, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (SOC 47-4041), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- RestorationMatch: how we estimate costs, Florida (editorial policy) Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida DFS: Determine Your Coverage Needs Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 627.70131 Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida DFS: What to Expect After Filing a Homeowners Claim Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida DFS: Be Your Own Advocate Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 627.70132 Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 627.7011 Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 627.7142 Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida OIR: Consumers Read Oct 24, 2026.
- DBPR: Construction Industry Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 553.79 Read Oct 24, 2026.
- City HB 803 pages (Miami, St. Petersburg, Hollywood, Orlando, Hernando County) Read Oct 24, 2026.