Solar Panels and Home Insurance FAQs in Florida

In Florida, issues related to solar panels and homeowners insurance center on the following:

Insurance Coverage:

Solar systems are typically included in standard home insurance policies, and insurance companies have no problem insuring homes with solar systems installed. Solar systems are included in Class A coverage under home insurance, and their value needs to be added to the replacement value of the home.

For stand-alone solar panels, they can be insured as part of the Class B coverage, and if the automatic coverage Class B limit is insufficient, it can be expanded by adding coverage for other structures on the residential property.

Premium Increases:

The cost of insuring a home usually increases only slightly after a solar system is installed, by about $10 to $15 per year or less than 1% of the initial system cost.

Installation requirements and building codes:

Roof-mounted PV systems must meet the requirements of the Florida Building Code, including the ability to withstand expected wind speeds, use of fire-resistant materials, and compliance with UL 1703.

Roof and wall penetrations should be sealed to protect against water, rodents and insects.

Legal and Policy Support:

Florida has passed a number of legislative measures to support the installation of solar energy systems, such as prohibiting increases in the assessed value of residential real estate to improve its wind resistance or the installation of renewable energy equipment, and exempting the sale, lease, and use of solar energy systems from taxation.

Insurance Exemptions and Additional Liability:

Under certain circumstances, the FPSC (Florida Public Service Commission) may consider amending its rules to waive unscientific insurance requirements or grant exemptions for all residential solar installations.

For net metering solar systems exceeding 10 kilowatts, Florida may require additional liability coverage, which seems unreasonable compared to other states.

Insurance coverage after catastrophic events:

In the event of a catastrophic event that could damage solar equipment, such as a hurricane, the system would likely be covered by property insurance.

Overall, installing a solar energy system in Florida does not significantly increase the cost of homeowner’s insurance and is supported by the appropriate laws and policies. However, installers will still need to ensure that building codes are followed and may require additional liability coverage.