In Florida, you have to give your buyer a written flood disclosure at or before the time you sign the sales contract, telling them whether you know of flooding that damaged the home while you owned it, whether you filed a flood insurance claim, and whether you received federal aid such as FEMA assistance for flood damage (Fla. Stat. 689.302, in effect since October 1, 2025). In Hollywood that question comes up in almost every sale, because 70% of properties in the city are at risk of severe flooding over the next 30 years (First Street Foundation data on Redfin, viewed October 2026).
Here is what the rule means for you as a Hollywood seller, and how to handle it without scaring off buyers.
What exactly does the Florida flood disclosure form ask?
The statute spells out the form. As the seller, you answer three questions about your time owning the home:
- Do you know of any flooding that damaged the property while you owned it?
- Have you filed a claim for flood damage with an insurance company, including the National Flood Insurance Program?
- Have you received help for flood damage from a federal program, including FEMA?
The form also defines "flooding" broadly. It covers overflow of inland or tidal waters, a fast buildup of runoff or surface water from a source like a canal or drainage ditch, and prolonged standing water from rain. So water that came in during a heavy summer storm or a king tide counts, not only a hurricane.
The form also tells the buyer that standard homeowners insurance usually does not cover flood damage and encourages them to talk to an insurance agent about separate flood coverage (Fla. Stat. 689.302).
Does the flood disclosure apply to condos in Hollywood?
The statute applies to residential real property and does not carve out condos. The 2025 changes also require condo and co-op developers to disclose flood history for units and common areas, and buyers of those units get a 15-day right to cancel if the disclosure is missing or misleading (Association of State Floodplain Managers summary).
If you are selling a condo on the beach side or along the Intracoastal, plan on filling out the form just like a single-family seller. Ask your association what it knows about past water in the garage or lobby, so your answers are complete.
What happens if I don't disclose past flooding?
The law does not list a fine for sellers, but leaving it out is still a real risk. Legal summaries of the 2025 update note that a buyer who suffers a substantial loss can pursue claims such as fraudulent misrepresentation or failure to disclose a material defect (Phelps Dunbar). Insurance claims and FEMA payments leave a paper trail, so a buyer's insurance agent or attorney can often find them anyway.
The safer move is to disclose clearly, attach what you have (repair invoices, the adjuster's report, elevation certificate) and let the facts speak. I'm not an attorney, so have a real estate lawyer review anything unusual.
Will disclosing a flood claim hurt my sale price in Hollywood?
It depends on how you present it and what the market looks like. Right now Hollywood buyers have time to compare. The median sale price was $479,772, about flat year over year (down 0.048%), and the median home sat 91 days before selling, down from 103 a year earlier (Redfin, September 2026).
Homes sold for 95.3% of list price on average, and 30.8% of homes for sale had a price drop (Redfin, September 2026). In a market like that, buyers negotiate on anything that makes them nervous. A clear story beats a surprise in the middle of the inspection period.
What helps most:
- Pull your claim history and any FEMA paperwork before you list, not after you get an offer.
- Document the repairs: who did the work, what was replaced, and permits if any were pulled.
- Get your flood zone from the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and an elevation certificate if you have one, so buyers can get a flood insurance quote early.
- Price the home with the disclosure in mind, so you are not forced into a bigger cut later.
I market every listing the way I show neighborhoods on my YouTube channel: video tours of the home and the area around it (https://www.youtube.com/@miamifineliving). If your home had water damage and was fixed the right way, that is something we can show and explain up front.
If you are thinking about selling in Hollywood, see my guide to selling a home in Hollywood, FL.
FAQ
When do I have to give the buyer the flood disclosure?
At or before the time the sales contract is signed (Fla. Stat. 689.302). Have it ready before you accept an offer.
My home never flooded. Do I still fill out the form?
Yes. The form is part of the sale either way, and answering "no" to each question is still a disclosure. It only covers what happened while you owned the home.
Does being in a flood zone mean I have to disclose flooding?
Not under this form. It asks about actual flood damage, claims and federal assistance during your ownership, not your FEMA zone. Buyers will still look up the zone, so have it ready, and if you know of water problems a buyer couldn't easily see, ask your attorney about disclosing those too.
About the author
Roman Ivanov is a South Florida listing agent with Miami Fine Living by Roman Ivanov (Real Broker, LLC), helping homeowners sell condos and single-family homes in Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, North Miami Beach and Hollywood. 160 career sales, licensed in Florida since 2014, 5.0 on Google, and fluent in English and Russian. Free home value: https://www.miamifineliving.net/home-value/ · (786) 909-4892