Home and auto insurance in Palm Beach County

The wind-borne debris region

The Florida Building Code requires protected openings, such as impact-rated windows and doors or approved shutters, in its wind-borne debris region. Palm Beach County's planning and zoning department states that all of unincorporated Palm Beach County is within that region.

Opening protection is one of the features recorded on Florida's wind mitigation inspection form, and insurers must offer credits for qualifying features. If your home has impact windows or shutters, a current wind mitigation report helps make sure they count.

Frances and Jeanne, 2004

Hurricane Frances made landfall on Hutchinson Island, just north of Palm Beach County, on September 5, 2004. About three weeks later, Hurricane Jeanne came ashore at nearly the same spot, roughly two miles away. Officials struggled to separate the damage from the two storms.

Two hurricanes, one deductible year

Florida's hurricane deductible applies on an annual basis to covered hurricane losses in a calendar year. If two hurricanes damage your home in one season and you met the deductible in full on the first claim, later hurricane claims that year use your regular deductible. Keep repair records storm by storm.

Auto insurance in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County drivers carry Florida's minimums of $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability. Comprehensive coverage is what pays when a hurricane drops a tree on your car or floods it.

Common questions in Palm Beach County

Is Palm Beach County in a wind-borne debris region?

Yes. Palm Beach County's planning and zoning department states that all of unincorporated Palm Beach County is within the Florida Building Code's wind-borne debris region, where openings must be protected.

Do impact windows lower insurance in Palm Beach County?

Opening protection is recorded on Florida's wind mitigation form, and insurers must offer credits for qualifying features. The size of the discount depends on the insurer.

Where did Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne make landfall?

Both came ashore on Hutchinson Island in 2004, about two miles and three weeks apart, north of Palm Beach County.

Local resources

• Palm Beach County: Wind speed and wind-borne debris maps
• Palm Beach County Emergency Management
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center: look up your flood zone

Related Florida guides

• Florida wind mitigation inspections: what they check and how they cut your premium
• Florida hurricane deductibles: how the 2%, 5% and 10% options work
• Florida roof age rules for home insurance: the 15-year law explained
• Flood insurance in Florida: NFIP, private flood and the Citizens requirement

Sources

• Palm Beach County: Wind speed maps
• National Weather Service Miami: Hurricane Jeanne
• Florida Department of Financial Services: Florida's hurricane deductible

General information, not insurance advice. Florida Coverage Compare is not an insurance company or agent. Confirm details with a licensed agent or the official source.