Florida Realtors announced in a press release that Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will allow new and renewing policyholders to defer submitting required flood insurance documentation due to the federal government shutdown affecting National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) operations.
According to Florida Realtors’ news release titled "Citizens Allows Flood Document Deferrals," Citizens will temporarily accept applications without immediate submission of proof of flood coverage and the Policyholder Affirmation Regarding Flood Insurance (CIT FW01) because NFIP processing is paused. The deferment applies to new and renewal policies effective October 1, 2025, and later, providing agents with flexibility during the shutdown. Florida Realtors notes that when NFIP resumes, policyholders will have 10 business days to provide the required documentation before facing potential adverse action.
According to Citizens Property Insurance’s own bulletin "Government Shutdown: Flood Document Deferral Process," as of 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2025, the NFIP has ceased issuing new policies or processing renewals due to the federal funding lapse. The bulletin states that it will defer the required proof of flood coverage and CIT FW01 affirmation until NFIP resumes operations. Once the program restarts, agents must submit those documents within 10 business days. It also mentions that if a policy’s cancellation or nonrenewal effective date is October 1 or later, agents can seek reinstatement via a special deferral form submitted prior to the effective date.
As reported by Insurance Journal, Citizens Property Insurance’s decision allows policyholders to maintain coverage continuity without immediate flood documentation submission during the NFIP shutdown. The report highlights that Florida law requires flood insurance when certain property valuations or flood zone criteria are met. It also mentions that private flood insurance remains available and that Citizens is encouraging customers to consider those options during the suspension. The article confirms that the deferment is strictly temporary and applies only while the NFIP is nonfunctional, after which Citizens will enforce documentary requirements.
Florida Realtors is the state’s largest professional association for real estate practitioners, representing over 238,000 members involved in residential and commercial real estate. As said on its official site, the organization advocates on legislative and regulatory issues affecting property rights, homeownership, and market stability, including insurance and disaster resilience. Florida Realtors also produces market research, legal updates, continuing education, and public policy guidance to support Realtors and inform Florida’s housing ecosystem.