Quick answer: A Florida condominium association’s master policy generally insures association property and common elements while excluding specified property inside each unit. An HO-6 policy can cover those interior items, belongings, liability, loss of use and eligible loss assessments. Review the declaration, bylaws, master policy and HO-6 together because responsibilities and exclusions vary.
Updated August 2026
Owning a Florida condo creates two connected layers of insurance: the association’s master policy and the unit owner’s HO-6 policy. One does not replace the other. Understanding the boundary is essential when choosing limits, reviewing an assessment or preparing for a hurricane.
PRK Insurance Inc is a Full Service Insurance Agency based in Naples and serving Southwest Florida communities. Visit the Florida condo insurance page for an overview of unit-owner coverage.
What does a Florida condo master policy cover?
Florida Statute §718.111 establishes important insurance responsibilities for residential condominium associations. Subject to the statute, policy and condominium documents, the association’s property insurance generally addresses insurable association property, common elements and certain property originally installed according to the original plans or replacements of comparable quality.
- The primary building structure
- Roof and exterior walls
- Common hallways and stairways
- Elevators and shared building systems
- Clubhouses, lobbies and other insured common elements
- Other association-owned property described in the policy
The actual policy controls. Do not assume that “walls-in,” “all-in” or “bare walls” accurately describes the coverage without reviewing the master declarations and form.
Florida law also identifies categories the association property policy generally must exclude: personal property within a unit or limited common element; floor, wall and ceiling coverings; electrical fixtures; appliances; water heaters and filters; built-in cabinets and countertops; and window treatments and related hardware that serve only one unit. Those exclusions are a central reason to review an HO-6 policy.
What can a Florida HO-6 policy cover?
An HO-6 is a residential condominium unit-owner policy. Depending on its terms and the limits selected, it can address:
- Interior building property: eligible fixtures, finishes, cabinets, countertops and improvements for which the owner is responsible.
- Personal property: furniture, clothing, electronics, appliances and other belongings after a covered loss.
- Loss of use: additional living expenses when a covered loss makes the unit uninhabitable.
- Personal liability: certain claims alleging that the unit owner caused another person’s injury or property damage.
- Medical payments: limited eligible medical expenses for injured guests, subject to the policy.
- Loss assessment: the owner’s share of certain association assessments arising from a covered direct property loss.
- Optional endorsements: possible additions for water backup, valuables, replacement-cost treatment, higher assessment limits or other needs.
The declaration page and policy form determine what is actually covered. Many HO-6 policies cover property only against stated causes of loss unless broader protection is added.
Compare both layers before a loss
Share the association declaration, master-policy summary and current HO-6 with PRK. We can help identify questions and compare available unit-owner options.
How do the master policy and HO-6 compare?
| Coverage question | Association master policy | Unit owner’s HO-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Building structure and common elements | Generally the association’s responsibility, subject to policy and declaration | Not intended to replace association building coverage |
| Flooring, wall coverings, cabinets and appliances | Specified categories are generally excluded under Florida law | Can be insured subject to the policy, limit and covered cause |
| Owner’s furniture, clothing and electronics | Generally not covered | Personal-property coverage can apply |
| Temporary housing after a covered unit loss | Generally not provided to the unit owner | Loss-of-use coverage may apply |
| Unit owner’s personal liability | Generally not covered by the building policy | Personal-liability coverage may apply |
| Special assessments | Pays covered association losses subject to limits and deductibles | Loss-assessment coverage may help only when its conditions are met |
| Flood damage | Requires association flood coverage when purchased or required | Separate unit contents or improvements coverage may be needed |
| Wind or hurricane deductible | The association policy’s deductible applies to its claim | The HO-6 can have a separate deductible and terms |
This table is a starting point. The declaration, bylaws, policy forms, cause of loss and unit-boundary provisions can change how a claim is handled.
Who repairs what after a condo property loss?
For property the association must insure, the association generally undertakes reconstruction, repair or replacement following an insurable event as a common expense. The unit owner remains responsible for property assigned to the owner under Florida law and the condominium documents.
Before a loss, request these records:
- Association property and liability declaration pages
- Current deductibles, including wind or hurricane deductibles
- The declaration’s insurance and unit-boundary provisions
- Bylaws and amendments affecting owner responsibilities
- Association flood-policy information
- Any unit-owner insurance requirements
A certificate stating that the association has insurance may not show exclusions, deductibles, limits or owner responsibilities. Ask for the information needed to make a like-for-like review.
How does Florida loss-assessment coverage work?
Loss-assessment coverage does not insure every special assessment. Florida Statute §627.714 requires a residential unit-owner policy to include at least $2,000 of property loss-assessment coverage when the assessment arises from the same direct loss to collectively owned association property and the loss is of a type covered by the unit-owner policy.
For that qualifying property loss, the statute limits the loss-assessment deductible to no more than $250. Important limitations remain:
- The assessment must arise from a type of direct property loss covered by the HO-6.
- The policy limit applies regardless of how many assessments arise from that occurrence.
- The relevant limit is generally the limit in effect one day before the occurrence.
- Increasing the limit after an event does not retroactively change coverage for that event.
- Maintenance, reserve shortages, elective improvements and uncovered causes are not automatically insured.
- A flood-related assessment may not be covered by an HO-6 that excludes flood.
For example, if rising water damages an association seawall and the unit owner’s HO-6 excludes flood, the loss-assessment feature does not become flood coverage merely because the association sends an assessment. The statutory $2,000 is a minimum included amount, not a recommendation that it is enough for every condo. Higher limits may be available.
How should condo owners coordinate wind and flood coverage?
Wind and flood are different causes of loss. An association property policy may insure covered wind damage to the building and common elements. It can also carry a large wind or hurricane deductible that may become a common expense under the documents and applicable law.
An HO-6 can separately insure covered wind damage to eligible interior property and belongings, with its own deductible. Flooding—including storm surge and rising surface water—is generally excluded from standard association property and HO-6 forms unless separate coverage is purchased.
- Does the association have an active master flood policy?
- Which building portions and common property does it cover?
- Does the owner need separate contents or improvements coverage?
- What are the association and unit deductibles?
- Does the lender impose additional requirements?
Review PRK’s Florida flood insurance options and Southwest Florida hurricane and flood guide. For broader personal-liability planning, you can also explore umbrella liability insurance; an umbrella does not replace property or flood coverage.
What should you gather for an HO-6 quote?
- Property address, unit number and desired effective date
- Primary, seasonal, rental or other occupancy
- Current HO-6 declaration page, if insured
- Association master-policy declaration page and deductibles
- Condominium declaration, bylaws and relevant amendments
- Association flood-policy information
- Interior square footage and construction details
- Estimated cost to rebuild owner-responsible interior property
- Description and cost of renovations or upgrades
- Personal-property inventory and valuable-item details
- Desired loss-of-use, liability and assessment limits
- Mortgage, prior insurance and claim information
Estimate interior reconstruction cost separately from market value. A condo’s sale price includes location, amenities and market conditions; it does not establish the cost to rebuild cabinets, flooring, fixtures, finishes and improvements.
How should you review coverage before buying or renewing?
- Identify the property the association must insure.
- List interior property and improvements assigned to the owner.
- Review the master policy’s wind, water and flood treatment.
- Convert association percentage deductibles into estimated dollar exposure.
- Inventory personal property and valuable-item sublimits.
- Estimate temporary housing needs after a major covered loss.
- Review personal-liability and loss-assessment options.
- Confirm seasonal, rental or vacancy conditions.
- Compare covered causes, exclusions, deductibles and settlement terms—not price alone.
Florida HO-6 and master-policy FAQs
Does Florida law require every condo owner to buy an HO-6?
Florida law establishes requirements for unit-owner policies, including conditional loss-assessment coverage, but an individual purchase requirement can depend on the lender, declaration, bylaws and ownership circumstances. Review all applicable documents.
Does the association policy cover my floors, cabinets and appliances?
Florida law generally excludes floor, wall and ceiling coverings, electrical fixtures, appliances, built-in cabinets, countertops and certain related property within and serving one unit from the association policy. An HO-6 can address eligible owner-responsible property.
Does loss-assessment coverage pay every special assessment?
No. The assessment must satisfy the HO-6 terms. The statutory minimum applies to certain assessments arising from a direct loss to collectively owned property when the cause is a type covered by the unit-owner policy.
Does HO-6 cover storm surge or rising water?
Standard HO-6 policies generally exclude flood, including storm surge and rising surface water. Separate flood contents or improvements coverage should be considered.
How much HO-6 coverage should a condo owner consider?
There is no universal amount. Consider interior reconstruction cost, personal property, temporary living expenses, liability, association deductibles, potential covered assessments, valuable items, occupancy and exclusions.
What do “walls-in” and “bare walls” mean?
They are shorthand descriptions, not substitutes for the documents. Definitions can vary. Use the declaration, master policy and unit-owner policy to identify the actual boundary and exclusions.
Coordinate your Florida condo coverage
PRK Insurance Inc can help review association information alongside your unit-owner coverage needs. Request a Florida condo insurance quote or ask PRK about your condo documents.
Official sources
- Florida Statute §718.111 — condominium association insurance responsibilities
- Florida Statute §627.714 — unit-owner loss-assessment coverage
- Florida DFS — Homeowners and Condominium Insurance Overview
This article provides general educational information, not legal advice or a coverage guarantee. Condominium documents, policies, deductibles, exclusions, eligibility and claim circumstances vary. The applicable contracts and Florida law control.
