20% — Standard Claims
For claims not tied to a declared state of emergency, the fee may not exceed 20% of the insurance claim payments or settlements paid to you — exclusive of attorney fees and costs.
How much does a public adjuster cost in Florida?
Published July 6, 2026 · By the Armada Public Adjusting team
Nothing up front — ever. Public adjuster fees in Florida are contingency fees capped by state law: no more than 20% of what the adjuster recovers for you, and no more than 10% after a Governor-declared emergency. Here's exactly how the math works, in plain English.
$0
Upfront or Hourly Fees
20%
Standard Fee Cap
10%
Declared-Emergency Cap
$30M+
Recovered for Clients
The law
Fee caps under Fla. Stat. 626.854
Florida doesn't leave public adjuster fees to chance. State law sets hard ceilings on what any licensed public adjuster may charge — and ties the fee entirely to your recovery.
10% — Declared Emergencies
When your claim is based on an event the Governor declared a state of emergency for — think hurricanes — the cap drops to 10% for claims made during the year after the declaration.
20% — Reopened & Supplemental
Going back for more after a claim was closed or underpaid? Compensation on a reopened or supplemental claim may not exceed 20% of the reopened or supplemental claim payment.
Two more protections built into the statute: the fee may be based only on money obtained through the adjuster's work after you sign the contract — the carrier's earlier payments don't count toward it — and it's calculated exclusive of attorney fees and costs. Contingency means exactly what it says: no recovery, no fee.
The math
What the fee looks like in real dollars
Say your adjuster recovers $40,000 on your claim. This is an illustrative example only — not a promised outcome — but the arithmetic is always this simple.
Standard claim at 20%
$40,000 recovered → $8,000 fee → $32,000 to you.
Declared-emergency claim at 10%
$40,000 recovered → $4,000 fee → $36,000 to you.
No recovery
$0 recovered → $0 fee. The risk sits with the adjuster, not with you.
Do public adjusters pay for themselves?
Florida's own legislative research office studied it. OPPAGA Report 10-06 (2010) found Citizens Property Insurance policyholders with public adjusters received an estimated $9,379 on typical non-catastrophe claims versus $1,391 without one — and 747% more on 2005 hurricane claims. Gross figures from one insurer, before fees — but the gap speaks for itself.
See what your claim is worth
In writing. Always.
The contract protections Florida requires
A handshake isn't legal here. Under Fla. Stat. 626.8796, every public adjuster contract must be in writing — and it must protect you in specific ways before a licensed adjuster earns a cent.
The fee, in big bold print
Your exact percentage must appear in at least 18-point bold type right before your signature line — no fine-print surprises.
The claim type, named
The contract must state whether yours is an emergency, nonemergency or supplemental claim — which determines which fee cap applies.
Your copy, on the spot
You get an unaltered copy the moment you sign, and your insurer must receive a copy within 7 days after execution.
A real cancellation window
On declared-emergency claims you may cancel without penalty within 30 days after the date of loss or 10 days after signing — whichever is longer.
A 60-day performance clock
If the adjuster hasn't sent your insurer a written estimate within 60 days of signing, you may rescind the contract — unless the delay was beyond the adjuster's control.
Compare your options
Public adjuster fees vs. attorney fees
Both work on contingency. The difference is when you need each one — and how much of your settlement each one keeps.
Public Adjuster
Capped at 10–20% by state law. Documents, values and negotiates the claim itself — inspections, estimates, supplements and appraisal — without filing a lawsuit. The right first move for most property claims.
Insurance Attorney
Florida's standard contingency schedule commonly runs 33⅓%–40% depending on the stage of the case, plus litigation costs. Essential when a dispute becomes a lawsuit — often unnecessary before then.
Better Together
They're not rivals. A public adjuster resolves most claims without court — and if litigation ever becomes necessary, the statute calculates the adjuster's fee exclusive of attorney fees and costs.
Claim already denied or underpaid? Start with our denied & underpaid claims guide — a denial letter is an opening move, not a verdict.
FAQ
Public adjuster cost questions, answered straight
For contested or sizable claims, the numbers strongly suggest yes. A 2010 Florida legislative
study (OPPAGA Report 10-06) found that Citizens Property Insurance policyholders who used
public adjusters received far larger payments — an estimated $9,379 versus $1,391 on typical
non-catastrophe claims. Those are gross figures from one insurer before the fee, and every
claim is different, but they show why carriers treat a represented claim differently. In one
Armada roof claim, a $5,000 insurer offer became a full roof replacement after we took the
claim through appraisal. No outcome is ever guaranteed.
You do — but only out of money the adjuster actually recovers from your insurance company.
There are no upfront charges and no hourly billing. Under Fla. Stat. 626.854, the fee may be
based only on claim payments or settlements obtained through the adjuster's work after the
contract is signed, exclusive of attorney fees and costs. If nothing is recovered, no fee is owed.
Yes. The 10% and 20% figures in Fla. Stat. 626.854 are legal maximums, not set prices — an
adjuster may charge less, and percentages are sometimes negotiated on very large or
straightforward claims. Whatever you agree to must appear in the written contract in at least
18-point bold type before your signature, so there are no surprises.
The 20% cap is Florida's standard limit. The 10% cap applies to claims based on events that
are the subject of a state of emergency declared by the Governor — a hurricane, for example —
and it applies to claims made during the year after the declaration. After that first year,
claims fall back under the standard 20% cap. Reopened and supplemental claims are capped at
20% of the reopened or supplemental payment.
This guide is general information about public adjuster fees in Florida, current as of its publication date — it is not legal advice. Statutes change; for guidance on your specific claim, consult the current text of Florida law or a licensed professional.
Talk to a licensed Florida public adjuster — free inspection
Find out what your claim is really worth before you accept anything. No recovery, no fee.
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