Homeowners Insurance in St. Petersburg, Florida (2024)

St. Petersburg is arguably the sunniest city in the Sunshine State. It holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive days of sunshine at 768. On top of this, St. Pete is home to beautiful beaches and a vibrant arts scene. It’s not surprising it frequently lands near the top of “Best Cities” lists to live in or visit in many publications.

The reasonable cost of living while being so close to the beach is a major draw. St. Pete also has a good blend of young and old, which means there’s something to do for everybody.

St. Petersburg homeowners insurance is pretty attractive, too. It costs a little more than the state average, but it’s significantly cheaper than rates in other notable coastal cities in Florida like Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

On average, homeowners insurance in St. Petersburg costs $3,666 annually on a $150,000 house, $6,648 on a $300,000 house, and $9,540 on a $450,000 house. 

These rates are slightly above the Florida state average of $3,325 on $150,000 homes, $6,026 on $300,000 homes, and $8,644 on $450,000 homes.

A big reason behind this cost is the city’s vulnerability to hurricanes from the Gulf of Mexico. In Florida, the chance of severe weather throughout the state is something all insurers consider. Let’s look at what companies are charging for St. Petersburg homeowners insurance on average.

From the numbers above, it seems Citizens and Universal Property & Casualty offer the cheapest homeowners insurance in St. Petersburg. Examine how their affordability carries over when accounting for two major cost factors – wind mitigation and home age.

The premiums displayed in this article were obtained by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. They represent the most recent rate filings from the state’s largest insurers and can be utilized as an average of what Floridians can expect to pay for homeowners insurance each year. The example premiums are based on a policy for a Florida masonry home with a $500 non-hurricane deductible, a 2% hurricane deductible and no claims in the past three years.

We broke down homeowners insurance rates in St. Petersburg for homes at the three different price levels accounting for the above variables. Look below at the in-depth numbers on $150,000 houses.

As you can see from the numbers above, wind mitigation makes a big difference in your rate. It can save you thousands of dollars while improving the safety of your home. Newer houses tend to have more effective wind mitigation measures already built in, like impact-resistant windows or doors, which is why these homes can be cheaper to insure.

While it’s useful to know the numbers for a $150,000 house, you may struggle to find a home for this price in St. Petersburg. The population is growing every year, and you’ll probably have to shell out a little more for the home you want. So let’s take a look at some average St. Petersburg homeowners insurance rates for $300,000 and $450,000 worth of coverage.

Your home is likely the biggest investment you’ve made in your life. It seems only natural to financially protect it from disaster. This is where home insurance comes in. When purchasing a homeowners insurance policy, you’re not only safeguarding your home but other aspects of your life and property too:

Calculating risk is a large part of determining the cost of a premium. The way each insurance company does it varies, but we know that some factors are calculated no matter what. These include:

Beyond these, another significant consideration for St. Petersburg homeowners insurance is the chance of natural disaster. 

The threat of hurricanes and tropical storms are the primary reasons why premiums are so expensive in Florida in the first place. Unfortunately, St. Pete’s position on the Gulf of Mexico puts it in one of the worst spots to be in as far as hurricanes are concerned. 

The St. Petersburg, Florida hurricane season lasts from June to November, and residents always have to keep an eye on the weather radar to brace for the big one. Just recently, the St. Pete area felt pretty serious effects from Hurricane Irma in 2017 and experienced a close call with Ian in2022.

At the time of writing in July of 2024, Florida’s insurance market may be showing some early sgns of stabilization, although the region still has to make it through a 2024 hurricane season that’s predicted to be a robust one.

Your homeowners insurance should offer some peace of mind, though, since it covers most instances of hurricane damage. As we touched on above, a policy provides coverage for the structures on your property, your personal belongings and loss of use coverage should you need it.

A lot of the land in St. Petersburg consists of FEMA-designated flood zones, especially properties along the Tampa Bay Channel. Living in one of the many St. Petersburg flood zones affects insurance rates since the government has determined that you’ve got a higher chance of being inundated by water. 

Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damage from flooding. Floodwaters in St. Pete can accompany a tropical storm or be brought on by typical seasonal rainfall. Flooding damage is very common and can be incredibly costly. The only way to be completely covered from flood damage is to purchase flood insurance in St. Petersburg, Florida. A flood policy protects the structures on your property and your personal belongings, but it isn’t required by law.

However, the Pinellas County government website recommends everyone purchase flood coverage as a precaution. Also, if the risk of your zone is high enough, your mortgage lender may require you to purchase flood insurance in St. Petersburg.

Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company is a popular insurance carrier in St. Petersburg. As one of the largest and longest-standing providers in the state of Florida, they’ve got plenty of experience dealing with the natural disasters Florida can see. They’ve been writing policies for over 20 years.

As you could see earlier from the cost breakdown, Universal Insurance in St. Petersburg, Florida comes in with the second-lowest average homeowners insurance rate in the city for $150,000 and $300,000 homes, and the lowest for a private insurer. 

If you’re looking for home insurance in St. Pete, Universal may be a bargain waiting just around the corner. To see which company can offer you the right coverage at the best rate, be sure to utilize Clovered’s online quote engine. Clovered can pair you with a tailored policy and compare quotes from top providers in the state.

You can also call 833-255-4117 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m, or you can shoot us an email at [email protected] to hear from a licensed and qualified agent.