Living in Hollywood, Florida means you're minutes from the beach, surrounded by Art Deco charm, and enjoying year-round sunshine. But coastal living in Broward County also means hurricane season, afternoon thunderstorms that can flood streets in minutes, and the reality that your landlord's insurance won't replace your laptop if a pipe bursts or a storm blows out your windows. That's where renters insurance comes in—and if you're renting anywhere near the coast, it's not just smart, it's often required.
Here's what surprises most Hollywood renters: a solid policy costs less than your monthly streaming subscriptions—typically $16 to $29 per month—but it protects everything you own and shields you from liability if someone gets hurt in your apartment. Let's walk through what you need to know about renters insurance in Hollywood, including why flood coverage matters even if you're not right on the beach.
What Renters Insurance Covers in Hollywood
Standard renters insurance in Florida covers four main areas. First is your personal property—everything from your furniture and clothes to your electronics and kitchen appliances. If a hurricane tears through and water damages your belongings, or if someone breaks into your apartment and steals your TV, your renters policy replaces those items up to your coverage limit. Most policies in Florida include $20,000 in personal property coverage, though you can adjust this based on what you own.
Second is liability protection, typically $100,000 in coverage. This is the part most renters underestimate. If your guest slips on your wet bathroom floor and breaks their arm, or if your dog bites someone at the dog park, you could face a lawsuit. Your liability coverage pays for legal defense and any settlement or judgment against you. In Hollywood, where many landlords require at least $300,000 in liability coverage, you'll want to make sure your policy meets their minimum.
Third is additional living expenses coverage. If a fire makes your apartment uninhabitable, your policy pays for a hotel, restaurant meals, and other costs while repairs are made. Given how expensive temporary housing can be in Hollywood, especially during peak season, this coverage can save you thousands.
Fourth, and this is crucial for coastal Florida: hurricane and windstorm damage is included in standard renters policies. Unlike homeowners who often pay separate wind premiums, renters get this protection automatically. But here's the catch—flood damage is never included.
Why Flood Insurance Matters Near Hollywood Beach
Hollywood's location on the coast, combined with its low-lying terrain and network of canals, makes flooding a real concern. In 2024, FEMA updated flood maps that placed over 11,000 Hollywood residents in high-risk flood zones. Even if you're not in one of these zones, heavy rainfall during summer storms can overwhelm drainage systems and send water into ground-floor apartments.
The good news: flood insurance for renters is surprisingly affordable. Through the National Flood Insurance Program, contents-only policies for renters start around $100 per year. Even better, Hollywood residents automatically receive a 20% discount on NFIP policies because the city participates in flood prevention and mitigation programs. Your policy covers your belongings if floodwater enters your unit—your landlord's flood policy only covers the building structure, not your stuff.
Keep in mind there's typically a 30-day waiting period before flood coverage kicks in, so don't wait until hurricane season starts to buy a policy. Contact your insurance agent or visit FloodSmart.gov to get quotes and understand your specific flood risk based on your Hollywood address.
What Hollywood Renters Insurance Actually Costs
Florida has some of the highest renters insurance rates in the country—only Louisiana pays more—because of hurricane exposure. The statewide average is about $28 per month, or $336 annually. In Hollywood, expect to pay between $16 and $29 per month depending on your coverage limits, deductible, and which company you choose.
Several factors affect your rate. Higher coverage limits and lower deductibles cost more. If you have expensive items like jewelry, cameras, or musical instruments, you may need additional coverage through scheduled personal property endorsements. Your claims history matters—if you've filed multiple claims recently, expect higher premiums. Some insurers offer discounts if you bundle renters insurance with auto insurance, or if you have safety features like deadbolts or a security system.
Here's a reality check: even at $29 per month, that's less than most people spend on coffee in a week. For that price, you get tens of thousands of dollars in property protection and $100,000 or more in liability coverage. When you consider that replacing everything you own—furniture, clothes, kitchen items, electronics—could easily cost $20,000 to $40,000, the premium makes sense.
Do You Really Need It? What Hollywood Landlords Require
Florida law doesn't require renters to carry insurance. But here's what matters: your landlord can require it, and many Hollywood landlords do. Apartment complexes like Cortland Hollywood mandate renters insurance with at least $300,000 in liability coverage as a lease condition. If you don't maintain coverage, you're violating your lease and could face eviction.
Even if your landlord doesn't require it, consider this: only about 55% of U.S. renters have coverage, and most of those only have it because their landlord made them. That means nearly half of renters are gambling that nothing will go wrong. In hurricane-prone Hollywood, that's a risky bet. One storm, one fire, one burst pipe—and you're out thousands with no way to recover.
Remember: your landlord's insurance covers the building, not your belongings. If the roof blows off in a hurricane, they're covered. If your furniture gets ruined by the resulting water damage, that's on you unless you have renters insurance.
How to Get Started with Renters Insurance in Hollywood
Start by taking inventory of what you own. Walk through your apartment and estimate what it would cost to replace everything—furniture, clothes, electronics, kitchen items, everything. Be thorough; most people significantly underestimate the value of their belongings. This helps you choose the right coverage amount.
Next, check your lease to see if your landlord requires specific coverage amounts. If they mandate $300,000 in liability, make sure your policy meets that minimum. Also ask if they need to be listed as an "interested party" on your policy—many landlords want proof that you're maintaining coverage.
Shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurers. Ask about discounts for bundling with auto insurance, having safety features, or being claims-free. Consider whether you want replacement cost coverage (which pays to buy new items) or actual cash value coverage (which factors in depreciation). Replacement cost costs more but provides better protection.
If you're near the coast or in a flood zone, get a flood insurance quote at the same time. The NFIP website makes this easy, and many private insurers also offer flood policies that may be more comprehensive than the NFIP option.
Living in Hollywood means accepting that hurricane season is part of life. It means understanding that summer storms can dump inches of rain in an hour. And it means protecting yourself with insurance that costs less than a nice dinner out but could save you from financial disaster. Get quotes, understand your coverage, and don't skip flood insurance if you're anywhere near the water. Your future self—the one not scrambling to replace everything after a storm—will thank you.
