Florida Daycare Insurance: What Licensing and Landlords Expect
Short answer: Florida child care licensing runs through DCF — and in several large counties, through local licensing agencies with their own rules — so insurance expectations vary by where you operate. Liability coverage with limits commonly cited around $500,000 per occurrence is the practical standard for licensed centers, and landlords, church campuses, and VPK/school-readiness program contracts routinely require proof regardless of what the county mandates. Cubby confirms your county's current requirement at quoting and issues licensing-ready certificates the same day you bind.
Florida's Patchwork: State + County
| Layer | Who | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| State licensing | DCF Child Care Regulation | Licensing standards; verify current insurance rules for your license type |
| County licensing | Local agencies in several large counties | Local ordinances can set their own insurance requirements |
| Contracts & leases | Landlords, churches, VPK/school-readiness | Routinely require $500K–$1M liability with certificates |
Verify your county's current rules with DCF or your local licensing agency — Florida's requirements genuinely vary by county, which is why we check them per-quote rather than quoting one number for the whole state.
Hurricane State, Hurricane Deductibles
Florida property coverage is its own animal: wind deductibles, named-storm provisions, and flood exclusions hit daycares exactly where it hurts — playground equipment, fencing, and roofs. If your center owns or improves its space, the property side of your package deserves as much scrutiny as the liability side, including business-interruption coverage that replaces tuition if a storm closes you for weeks. We quote Florida property with the storm math done out loud.
The Coverage Florida Programs Skip (and Shouldn't)
Whatever your county requires, the exposure that ends child care businesses is the same in Florida as everywhere: abuse & molestation allegations, with defense costs that can pass six figures. Budget policies exclude it or bury a small sublimit. Every Cubby quote shows the A&M limit in writing — it's the first line to compare on any competing Florida quote.
What a Complete Florida Package Looks Like
- General liability sized to your county and contracts — commonly $500K–$1M per occurrence.
- Abuse & molestation coverage with real limits, in writing.
- Commercial property with honest wind/storm terms and business interruption.
- Professional liability and accident medical.
- Commercial auto for transport and field-trip programs.
- Workers comp for staff (required for most Florida employers).
Get Florida-Ready Proof Today
New license, a county inspector's checklist, or a lease demanding a certificate — start your quote and a Florida-savvy specialist comes back today with your county's requirement confirmed.