What Does a Public Adjuster Cost After Hurricane Isaias?
Nearly 55,000 Isaias claims have been filed in Florida. Nearly 8,500 have already closed without a payment. About 43,000 are still open. If your claim is one of them, you need to know what a public adjuster costs before you sign anything. Florida law sets the fee. It is not a negotiation.
Florida Caps the Fee by Law
A public adjuster works on contingency. You pay nothing up front. The fee is a percentage of what your insurer pays on your claim. Florida caps that percentage in section 626.854 of the Florida Statutes. The caps in this table are the residential caps.
| Your situation | Maximum fee |
|---|---|
| Isaias claim made within one year after the state of emergency declaration | 10 percent of claim payments |
| Any other residential claim | 20 percent of claim payments |
| Your insurer pays, or agrees in writing to pay, at or above the policy limit for that coverage within 14 days of the loss or 10 days after you sign, whichever is later | 1 percent |
| Your insurer paid, or agreed in writing to pay, before you signed the adjuster contract | 0 percent |
Read the last row twice. If your insurer already offered or paid an amount in writing before you signed, a public adjuster gets nothing on that amount. The fee applies only to money the adjuster helps recover after you sign.
For residential claims, Florida caps the fee at 10 percent during the first year after a state of emergency declaration. And 10 percent of nothing is nothing. Without representation, many homeowners walk away with far less or nothing at all.
When a Public Adjuster Is Worth It
A public adjuster is usually worth it when your claim is large or complicated. Roof damage, water intrusion, and interior damage together mean dozens of line items. A carrier estimate that looks clearly low is another sign. So is a claim your insurer closed without payment.
A public adjuster is also worth it when you cannot manage the claim yourself. If you are displaced, working, or caring for family, the paperwork alone can bury you. The adjuster inspects the property, builds the estimate, and handles the carrier.
The research backs this up. A Florida OPPAGA study of Citizens claims found catastrophe claim settlements averaged 747 percent higher when homeowners used a public adjuster.
When a Public Adjuster Is Not Worth It
Be honest with yourself before you sign. A public adjuster is usually not worth it when the damage sits close to your hurricane deductible. There is little extra money to recover. It is also not worth it when your insurer has already offered a fair amount in writing. And if your claim is already in a legal dispute, a lawyer is the right call. A public adjuster cannot give legal advice.
You Can Cancel
You can cancel the contract for any reason, without penalty or obligation, within 10 days after signing. For a claim from a declared state of emergency, like Hurricane Isaias, you can cancel within 30 days after the date of loss or 10 days after signing, whichever is longer. Read the contract before you sign it. Check the adjuster license on the Florida Department of Financial Services website. Confirm the license is active.
Your Isaias Deadlines
Florida gives you one year from landfall to report a new or reopened Isaias claim. That date is October 9, 2027. A supplemental claim runs to April 9, 2028. A lawsuit on the claim runs to October 9, 2031. FEMA approved Individual Assistance on October 29, 2026 for 8 counties: Bay, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington. Your insurance claim is still the claim that can pay you.
What to Do Now
Get your denial or your carrier estimate in writing. Ask for the full policy and the adjuster report. Photograph everything before repairs start. Do not sign a quick settlement or a release until you understand what you are giving up. If your claim was denied, you can also ask for free mediation through the Department of Financial Services. The insurer pays for the mediation.
Free claim review: call 800.511.2240.
We work Isaias claims across the Panhandle, including Pensacola and Destin.