Citizens Insurance Rate Cuts in Broward & Palm Beach: What Changes in 2026 and 2027

Rate figures come from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation's approved 2026 rates by county. Flood insurance rules come from Citizens and Florida Statute 627.351. Updated September 2026.

Good News for Most Citizens Policyholders in Broward and Palm Beach

If your home is insured through Citizens Property Insurance, your premium is likely going down at your next renewal. Florida regulators approved a new set of Citizens rates for 2026, and Broward and Palm Beach did better than most of the state.

In Broward, 72,935 of 95,192 Citizens policies were approved for a decrease. The countywide average premium drops about 8.2%, from $3,178 to $2,916. In Palm Beach, 62,265 of 70,672 policies were approved for a decrease, with an average drop of about 8.0%, from $3,539 to $3,255.

Standard Homeowners Policies Got the Biggest Cuts

The largest savings went to standard homeowners policies (HO3):

• Broward: down 14.1% on average, from $5,094 to $4,377. That's the largest county-level HO3 cut in Citizens' approved table, and every one of Broward's 26,675 HO3 policies was approved for a decrease.
• Palm Beach: down 11.9% on average, from $5,056 to $4,455.

Condo owners with HO6 policies also saw solid cuts: about 10.5% in Broward (average $1,319 to $1,181) and 9.2% in Palm Beach ($1,624 to $1,474).

Not Every Policy Went Down

A smaller group is going the other way. Wind-only dwelling policies (DW2) were approved for the biggest increases: 12.2% in Broward and 13.6% in Palm Beach. Mobile home policies are up slightly, about 1.3% in Broward and 1.2% in Palm Beach.

The new rates took effect July 1, 2026 for new policies and apply to existing policies at renewal. Florida law requires at least 45 days' written notice of your renewal premium, so check your renewal paperwork when it comes.

Why This Matters Even If You're Not With Citizens

Insurance is now one of the biggest parts of the monthly cost of owning a home in South Florida. When Citizens rates drop, it helps set the tone for the whole market. For buyers, a lower insurance quote can mean a lower monthly payment and a little more buying power. For sellers, it can make a home easier to sell. I always tell my clients to get a real insurance quote early in the process, not after they're under contract.

The Big Flood Insurance Deadline: January 1, 2027

Here's the part a lot of people don't know about. Separate from the rate cut, Florida law is phasing in a rule that most Citizens customers with wind coverage must also carry flood insurance. It has been rolling out in stages based on your home's insured dwelling value (Coverage A), not its market value:

• January 1, 2024: $600,000 or more
• January 1, 2025: $500,000 or more
• January 1, 2026: $400,000 or more
• January 1, 2027: all remaining policies, regardless of value

That last step applies even if you are not in a FEMA flood zone. Homes in higher-risk flood zones already had to carry flood coverage. Renewing policyholders have to send Citizens proof of flood coverage along with a signed affirmation form.

How much coverage? For dwelling policies, flood coverage generally has to be at least equal to your Citizens dwelling coverage. If that much isn't available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Citizens accepts the NFIP maximum you qualify for, which is $250,000 in dwelling coverage under the regular program.

What About the Federal Flood Program?

The NFIP was set to expire on September 30, 2026. Congress extended it to December 11, 2026 as part of the stopgap spending bill signed on September 2, according to news reports. That avoided a lapse for now, but it means another deadline lands right before the Citizens flood rule kicks in. If you're buying a home that needs a new flood policy, don't wait until the last minute to bind it.

What I'd Do Now

• Read your Citizens renewal notice and compare the new premium to last year's.
• Get a flood quote now if you don't have flood insurance. Compare NFIP and private flood options.
• Buying a home? Get insurance and flood quotes during your inspection period so there are no surprises at closing.
• Selling? If your home has a transferable flood policy or a wind mitigation report, share it with buyers. It can help.

Questions About Insurance and Your Home?

I'm not an insurance agent, but I help buyers and sellers across Broward and Palm Beach factor insurance into every move, and I'm happy to connect you with local insurance pros. Call or text me at (561) 289-9305 or email chris@homesbycusi.com.

Sources: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation 2026 rate announcement and approved rate changes by county; Citizens flood insurance requirements; Florida Statutes 627.351(6)(aa) and 627.4133; FEMA NFIP reauthorization page; news coverage of the September 2, 2026 continuing resolution; The Friendly Scoop, "Citizens Rates Are Dropping in Broward and Palm Beach" (thefriendlyscoop.com/news/citizens-insurance-rates-flood-requirement-2026).