The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has approved an increase in the capping factor on policies for non-primary residences for new and renewal Personal Lines business effective on and after December 16, 2023.

What Is Considered a Primary Residence?

A primary residence is a dwelling that is the policyholder’s primary home and is occupied for more than nine months of the year or is a leased rental property that is the primary home that the tenant occupies for more than nine months of each year.

Policies Renewing on or After December 16, 2023

Policies that do not insure a primary residence will receive a higher capping factor at renewal. Policies that are currently listed as insuring a primary residence but cannot be verified as a primary residence will be changed to non-primary residences at renewal and charged the rate applicable to non-primary residences.

Updating Existing Policies from Non-Primary to Primary

If an existing policy needs to be updated from non-primary to primary, follow the steps outlined below to ensure the policy will be renewed with the proper rate and policy premium.

1. Policy Affirmation Form

The policyholder must sign the Policyholder Affirmation Regarding Primary Residence (CIT PR01) form when changing from non-primary to primary. The form must be printed from Citizens’ Agents website, signed by the policyholder (e-signature is acceptable), and uploaded with the acceptable proof of primary residency.

2. Proof of Primary Residency

One of the following must be submitted and are acceptable proof of primary residency:

• Homestead exemption
• Voter registration card
• Redacted Florida driver’s license*
• Redacted Florida identification card*
• Redacted military orders*
• Vehicle registration
• Lease agreement executed within the last 12 months

Note: Agents must redact the personal information (e.g., driver’s license number, identification card number, military identification number) from the documents marked with an asterisk prior to uploading.

3. Submit Policy Change in PolicyCenter®

Create a policy change and submit the required documents with the form and proof of residency.

Note: If there has been a change in the occupancy and usage, coverage may need to be rewritten. Agents should verify that the policy is written on the correct policy form.

New Business on or After December 16, 2023

For both bound and unbound new-business policies, the Policyholder Affirmation Regarding Primary Residence (CIT PR01) form will print with the application and will require the applicant’s signature when the risk is a primary residence. If the property has been purchased within the last 45 days, proof of primary residency as outlined above may not be available and the Policyholder Affirmation Regarding Primary Residence New Purchase-Owner Occupied (CIT PR02) form will suffice.

PolicyCenter Updates

The following new fields will be added in PolicyCenter on the Dwelling screen in the Details tab:

• What Proof of Primary Residence is Available? – lists the acceptable proof-of-residency documents noted above
• Non-Primary Residence Rate Applied – automatically prefills based on answers in the Dwelling Details

Figure 1: Dwelling screen Details tab: What Proof of Primary Residence is Available? and Non-Primary Residence Rate Applied fields

Policyholder Communication

Citizens will contact impacted policyholders soon with a policyholder letter advising them what is required for primary residency. Please ensure your customers enroll in myPolicy and keep their email addresses up to date.

Note: Policyholders with an email address on file will also receive an email.

Citizens’ Live Webinar

Register for free Citizens-sponsored Zoom webinars by using the links below or logging in to the Citizens Learning Center (CLC).