{"id":134,"date":"2013-12-06T10:50:56","date_gmt":"2013-12-06T15:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thefloridainsuranceblog.com\/?p=134"},"modified":"2026-07-06T18:49:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T22:49:27","slug":"insurance-coverage-for-sinkholes-in-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/2013\/insurance-coverage-for-sinkholes-in-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Insurance Coverage for Sinkholes in Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- gf-reformat:v1 --><\/p>\n<figure aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" id=\"attachment_136\" style=\"width: 300px\"><img alt=\"Florida Sinkholes\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-136 lazyload\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.thefloridainsuranceblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/sinkhole-strikes-florida-resort_70278_600x450-300x197.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/sinkhole-strikes-florida-resort_70278_600x450-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/sinkhole-strikes-florida-resort_70278_600x450-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/sinkhole-strikes-florida-resort_70278_600x450.jpg 600w\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"197\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/sinkhole-strikes-florida-resort_70278_600x450-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/sinkhole-strikes-florida-resort_70278_600x450-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/sinkhole-strikes-florida-resort_70278_600x450.jpg 600w\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/197;\" width=\"300\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\" id=\"caption-attachment-136\">Florida Sinkholes can destroy an entire neighborhood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Sinkholes are part of the Florida landscape. The Florida peninsula is made up of limestone, a porous carbonate rock that stores and helps move groundwater. Soil sits on top of the limestone and over time, groundwater erodes the limestone, forming a cavity.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">When the top weighty layer caves in, a sinkhole is created. Periods of drought followed by substantial rain, along with the heavy pumping of groundwater by citizens can trigger sinkholes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gf-takeaways\"><p class=\"gf-takeaways__title\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Catastrophic ground cover collapse is covered by Florida law, sinkhole damage is not.<\/li><li>Sinkhole coverage is available as an add-on to homeowners insurance for additional cost.<\/li><li>Tampa area counties like Hillsborough and Pinellas are most affected by sinkholes.<\/li><li>Home sellers must disclose previous sinkhole claims and repair costs to buyers.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"gf-cta gf-cta-top\"><span class=\"gf-cta__lead\">Shopping for Florida Homeowners Insurance?<\/span><a class=\"gf-cta__button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com?utm_source=blog&#038;utm_medium=cta&#038;utm_campaign=insurance-coverage-for-sinkholes-in-florida&#038;utm_content=top\">Get a Free Quote<\/a><\/div>\n<p>\u201cWhen there is a widely reported sinkhole occurrence, such as the recent case in Dunedin where a sinkhole swallowed a portion of two homes and a boat, homeowners become concerned about their insurance coverage,\u201d says <a _blank=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dustyns\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dustyn Shroff<\/a>, Vice President of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/\" title=\"Florida Homeowners Insurance\">Great Florida Insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFlorida law requires insurance companies to provide coverage for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/floridahomeownersinsurancefaq.aspx\" title=\"Florida Homeowners Insurance\">catastrophic ground cover collapse<\/a>. However, sinkhole damage must meet specific criteria and may not be covered by your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/floridahomeownersinsurancefaq.aspx\" title=\"Florida Homeowners Insurance\">homeowner\u2019s insurance policy<\/a> because the law defines sinkhole damage differently from catastrophic ground cover collapse. Sinkhole coverage is available to add to a homeowner\u2019s policy for an additional cost,\u201d says Ellsworth.<\/p>\n<p>While sinkholes are common in the state, some high profile occurrences around central Florida this year have caused homeowners to become more aware of the risks that come with living in the Sunshine State. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.greattampainsurance.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Tampa Home Insurance\">Tampa<\/a> counties including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Hernando and Pasco are the most affected by sinkholes.<\/p>\n<p>Homes in Florida are not required to be inspected for the possibility of sinkholes and most builders do not have them inspected due to the extra expense. It is impossible to predict when and where the exact location of a sinkhole might develop.<\/p>\n<p>Only a licensed professional geologist with training in identifying sinkholes might be able to determine the possibility of sinkhole activity. It is important to keep in mind, not all potential sinkhole activity can be identified. As a protection to buyers, home sellers are required to disclose when a sinkhole claim was made on a piece of property and the amount that was paid to repair the damages.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, \u201cmany insurance companies rely upon the regional maps showing zones of sinkhole occurrences based on the local geology and historical sinkhole activity, or on private sinkhole data.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">When choosing a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/floridahomeownersinsurancefaq.aspx\" title=\"Florida Homeowners Insurance\">homeowners insurance policy<\/a>, you must weigh the risk and decide what on the terms that comfort you and your family.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/\" title=\"Florida Homeowners Insurance\">GreatFlorida Insurance<\/a> is a network of over 100 independent insurance agents serving Florida. Our agents can help you shop around for policies just right for you. We are available 24\/7 to serve your needs.<\/p>\n<p>Sources: Florida Department of Environmental Protection<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"florida_sinkhole_map - Homeowners Insurance\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-137 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.thefloridainsuranceblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/florida_sinkhole_map.png\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"652\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 620px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 620\/652;\" width=\"620\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"How Sinkholes Form - Homeowners Insurance\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-135 lazyload\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.thefloridainsuranceblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster.png 800w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster-300x236.png 300w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster-768x603.png 768w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster-150x118.png 150w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster-696x546.png 696w\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"628\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster.png 800w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster-300x236.png 300w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster-768x603.png 768w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster-150x118.png 150w, https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SinkholePoster-696x546.png 696w\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/628;\" width=\"800\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gf-cta gf-cta-end\"><p class=\"gf-cta__headline\">Ready to save on Florida Homeowners Insurance?<\/p><p class=\"gf-cta__sub\">GreatFlorida Insurance Agents compare rates from Florida's best carriers for you.<\/p><a class=\"gf-cta__button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com?utm_source=blog&#038;utm_medium=cta&#038;utm_campaign=insurance-coverage-for-sinkholes-in-florida&#038;utm_content=end\">Get a Free Quote<\/a><p class=\"gf-cta__phone-line\">Or call <a href=\"tel:8884787801\" class=\"gf-cta__phone\">888.478.7801<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida Sinkholes can destroy an entire neighborhood Sinkholes are part of the Florida landscape. The Florida peninsula is made up of limestone, a porous carbonate rock that stores and helps move groundwater. Soil sits on top of the limestone and over time, groundwater erodes the limestone, forming a cavity. When the top weighty layer caves [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1219,"featured_media":136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[14,16,15],"class_list":["post-134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-homeowners-insurance","tag-florida-homeowners-insurance","tag-florida-insurance","tag-home-safety"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1219"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14784,"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134\/revisions\/14784"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}