Luxury homes · Complex reconstruction
Ordinance & Law Coverage for Florida Property Claims
A repair estimate should explain both the damaged property and any required code work. We help owners document that difference, with particular attention to custom homes, specialty systems and substantial repairs.
Reviewed November 3, 2026. Requirements and insurance benefits depend on the project, applicable code, policy and loss facts.
Two questions need separate answers
What work does the authority require? The building official, qualified design professional and licensed contractor address the requirements applicable to the proposed repair. Obtain a written explanation identifying the affected work and code provisions.
Which costs does the policy cover? Review the complete policy, ordinance-or-law endorsement, limits, exclusions, conditions and payment requirements. A permit requirement does not automatically make every cost payable. A contractor’s proposal alone does not resolve coverage.
Florida’s section 627.7011 addresses homeowners’ replacement-cost and law-and-ordinance coverage offers and related conditions. Do not assume every policy provides the same limit, or apply a homeowners provision to a commercial master policy without reviewing its terms. Ask a Florida attorney to resolve a disputed legal interpretation.
Identify the applicable code edition
The Florida Building Commission identifies the 8th Edition (2023) as effective December 31, 2023. Confirm the edition, amendments and permit rules governing your specific project. A published future edition is not necessarily the edition applicable to work today.
Existing-building repairs, alterations, historic properties and new construction can involve different provisions. Avoid blanket claims that any repair requires every part of an older home to meet all new-construction requirements.
Roof rules are not floodplain rules
Florida’s 25% roof rule has a statutory exception for qualifying roofs or roof sections compliant with the 2007 Florida Building Code or a later edition. It was not simply removed for every roof. Permit history and the specific conditions matter. Read our Florida roof-code guide and section 553.844(5).
Floodplain substantial-damage review is a different process. Florida’s floodplain guidance explains the NFIP definition based on repair cost compared with the structure’s pre-damage market value. The commonly cited threshold is 50%; the local authority makes the determination and local requirements must be checked. Do not confuse this calculation with a roof-area percentage, an insurance deductible or a coverage limit.
Make a custom-home scope specific
A substantial repair may involve roofing, structural connections, electrical or plumbing work, mechanical systems, windows, doors and access to concealed assemblies. Ask each qualified trade to identify which operations repair damage, which satisfy an applicable requirement and which are elective improvements.
For premium interiors, preserve specifications for stone, millwork, cabinetry, specialty flooring and integrated equipment. Document necessary access, protection, dismantling and reinstallation. High value does not establish automatic replacement, and a matching issue is not automatically an ordinance-or-law expense.
Related guides: luxury property claims · plumbing damage · electrical damage · roof claims.
Records that make the difference clear
- The policy, declarations and ordinance-or-law endorsements.
- Photographs and a measured description of the damage before demolition, where safe.
- Permit records, written building-department requirements and approved plans.
- Engineer, architect or licensed-trade findings within their professional scope.
- Itemized proposals separating damage repairs, required upgrades and optional work.
- Invoices, inspection results and completion records for costs claimed.
Ask about policy deadlines and incurred-cost requirements before assuming a proposed allowance will be paid in advance. Report the loss promptly and arrange necessary safe emergency protection; do not delay those duties while assembling a complete estimate.
Help with an incomplete estimate
When engaged, EPA reviews the claim record, organizes supported scope and pricing differences and communicates with the insurer for the policyholder. We do not issue permits, perform engineering or provide legal advice. No review guarantees coverage, replacement or additional payment.
We welcome inquiries from homeowners, association boards and businesses across Florida, with a focus on luxury residential and complex claims around Orlando, Daytona Beach, Naples and Tampa. Request a free initial claim review or contact an office.
Start with a clear next step.
Tell us where the property is, what happened and where the claim stands. Luxury homes and complex losses are our focus; all property owners are welcome to ask whether we can help.
Free initial claim review
(888) 881-8416
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Do not delay emergency assistance, reasonable mitigation or required notice while awaiting a consultation. Public adjusting representation requires a separate written agreement describing services and fees.
David Dwyer, designated primary adjuster: Florida license W391016. Experienced Public Adjusters, LLC: firm license W807213. We are not a law firm and do not guarantee coverage or a settlement result.