What should Florida homeowners ask their insurer before installing rooftop solar?

What the rule says

Before installation, ask for written confirmation of coverage for your proposed solar system. Read the policy and endorsements alongside the insurer’s response; a search for a solar-specific statute cannot settle a claim under general dwelling coverage.

Florida law regulates several features of homeowners policies that
directly affect a solar-equipped home:

• Mandatory coverage offers. Under section 627.7011(1),
  before issuing a homeowners policy an insurer must offer replacement-cost
  coverage on the dwelling and law-and-ordinance coverage (25 percent or 50 percent
  of the dwelling limit). Unless the policyholder signs a written refusal, the
  policy is deemed to include law-and-ordinance coverage limited to 25 percent
  of the dwelling limit. Replacement-cost treatment of the dwelling matters for
  solar equipment only if the policy covers the equipment as part of the structure.
• Roof-age protections. Under section 627.7011(5), an insurer may not refuse
  to issue or renew a homeowners policy insuring a residential structure solely
  because the roof is less than 15 years old. For a roof at least 15 years old,
  the insurer must allow the homeowner to have a roof inspection performed by an
  authorized inspector at the homeowner's expense before requiring roof replacement
  as a condition of issuing or renewing, and may not refuse solely because of roof
  age if the inspection shows the roof has 5 years or more of useful life remaining.
• The separate roof deductible. Under section 627.701(10),
  a personal lines residential property insurance policy may include a separate
  roof deductible that does not exceed the lesser of 2 percent of the Coverage A
  limit or 50 percent of the cost to replace the roof, with an actuarially sound
  premium credit or discount. It applies only to claims adjusted on a replacement
  cost basis, and does not apply to a total loss of the primary structure, a roof
  loss from a hurricane, a roof loss from a tree fall or other hazard that punctures
  the roof deck, or a roof loss requiring repair of less than 50 percent of the
  roof. The policyholder must be offered the ability to opt out and reject the
  deductible by signing a form approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation.
• Claims process rights. Under section 627.7142,
  an insurer issuing a personal lines residential property insurance policy must
  provide a Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights to a policyholder within 14 days after
  receiving an initial communication about a claim. The bill of rights summarizes
  rights such as an acknowledgment of the claim within 7 days and a coverage
  response, on written request, within 30 days after a complete proof-of-loss statement; that response may state that investigation is continuing. The section separately describes a 60-day payment or denial period, with exceptions.
• No contractor assignments. Under section 627.7152(13),
  a policyholder may not assign post-loss insurance benefits under a residential
  property insurance policy issued on or after January 1, 2023, and an attempt
  to do so is void, invalid, and unenforceable. This matters when a solar or roofing
  contractor asks you to sign over claim rights.
• Presuit procedure. Under section 627.70152,
  suits arising under a residential or commercial property insurance policy require
  a written notice of intent to initiate litigation with a presuit settlement
  demand and the insurer's written response before suit may proceed.

Which authority controls

The Florida Legislature controls the statutory framework, set out in the 2025
Florida Statutes, Chapter 627. The regulator is the Florida Office of Insurance
Regulation (OIR), which publishes consumer resources
including its homeowners insurance overview
(describing Coverage A through M and the HO-1 through HO-8 policy forms) and a
consumer complaint process. Consumer complaints and questions are also handled
by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services
consumer helpline (1-877-693-5236, Consumer.Services@myfloridacfo.com), which the
OIR's consumer page identifies as the contact for insurance questions and complaints.

What may still be required or restricted

• Coverage of solar equipment is not automatic; an endorsement or policy change
  may be needed, and the insurer may limit or exclude the equipment under lawful
  underwriting.
• Roof age and condition remain underwriting factors. The s. 627.7011(5) roof-age
  rule bars refusal solely because of roof age in the situations it describes;
  it does not stop an insurer from applying other lawful underwriting criteria.
• If the policy contains a separate roof deductible, a covered roof loss can carry
  a substantial out-of-pocket cost; confirm whether your policy has one and whether
  you signed the opt-out form.
• Hurricane deductibles and wind-mitigation credits (referenced in s. 627.701)
  affect premiums and claim payments for storm losses in Florida.
• Condominium unit owners carry their own policies (unit-owner forms), and
  association policies cover common elements; confirm which policy would respond
  to a loss involving equipment on a shared roof.
• Flood insurance is separate from homeowners coverage, and Citizens personal
  lines residential policies generally require flood coverage to be secured as
  a condition of coverage (s. 627.351(6)(b)2.b.(aa)).

Facts that could change the answer

• The policy language and the insurer's underwriting rules, which decide whether
  the panels are covered and on what valuation basis.
• Whether the home is insured in the private market or through Citizens Property
  Insurance Corporation, whose coverage terms differ.
• The roof's age and condition, which interact with the s. 627.7011(5) protections
  and with rooftop solar installations that often accompany roof replacement.
• Whether the loss is hurricane-related, a total loss, or a partial roof loss —
  the exceptions in s. 627.701(10) change whether the roof deductible applies.
• Whether you are selling energy to a utility or the home is being sold, which
  can raise separate questions under the policy and the sale contract.

Practical decision path

1. Before signing a solar contract, ask your insurer in writing whether the
   equipment is covered, under what limits, and on what valuation basis, and keep
   the response.
2. Review the offers required by s. 627.7011 (replacement cost, law and ordinance)
   and keep any signed rejection or selection forms.
3. Ask whether the policy contains a separate roof deductible and whether you can
   opt out under s. 627.701(10); keep the signed form.
4. If the roof is 15 years or older, use the s. 627.7011(5) inspection right before
   agreeing to a roof replacement demanded by an insurer.
5. If a loss occurs, expect the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights within 14 days
   (s. 627.7142) and keep all claim correspondence.
6. If the claim is denied or delayed, contact the DFS consumer helpline or file
   a complaint with the OIR before considering litigation, which has presuit
   requirements under s. 627.70152.
7. Do not sign an assignment of benefits to a contractor; for policies issued on
   or after January 1, 2023, it is void under s. 627.7152(13).

Records to keep

Keep the declarations page and endorsements, the insurer's written confirmation
about solar coverage, the s. 627.7011 offer forms and any rejections, the roof
deductible election or opt-out form, any roof inspection report, the Homeowner
Claims Bill of Rights, all claim correspondence, and complaint reference numbers
from the helpline or the OIR.

Common mistakes

• Installing before asking. Coverage of solar equipment is not guaranteed by
  Florida law; an oral "it should be fine" is not a coverage decision.
• Signing away claim rights. Assignment-of-benefits documents signed for
  policies issued on or after January 1, 2023 are void under s. 627.7152(13), but
  contractors may still ask; do not sign without understanding the document.
• Ignoring the roof deductible. A separate roof deductible can create a large
  out-of-pocket cost on a covered roof loss even when the panels themselves are
  covered.
• Assuming wind coverage answers every storm question. Hurricane deductibles,
  the roof deductible, and flood exclusions interact; ask about each.

When professional advice may help

For a high-value system or a disputed claim, an insurance agent or broker licensed
in Florida can compare policy options, and an attorney familiar with Florida
property insurance can evaluate coverage questions, presuit requirements under
s. 627.70152, and claims disputes. Before work begins, obtain the written requirement from the authority named in the guide and keep the record.