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Law and Ordinance Coverage

When a home or building has been damaged, owners typically count on their insurance policies to cover the costs of the necessary repairs. Older buildings, however, may require some additional work in order to comply with changes to local ordinances or building codes—even when structures are only a couple of years old.

Basic homeowners or property insurance policies may not cover these extra costs that can add as much as 50 percent to recovery expenses. Law and ordinance coverage (sometimes referred to as law or ordinance coverage, ordinance or law coverage, or law of ordinance coverage) is designed to protect home and building owners in the event that repairing their structures will require additional work to comply with local laws.

Lawyer for Law and Ordinance Coverage Issues in Orlando, FL

Is your insurance company refusing to honor or undervaluing your law and ordinance claim? It is in your best interest to immediately contact the Germain Law Group for help achieving the most favorable outcome to your situation.

Michael Germain is an insurance law attorney in Orlando who assists clients in the greater Orange County area as well as nearby communities in Volusia County, St. Lucie County, Osceola County, and Seminole County. He can provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your claim as soon as you call (813) 835-8888 to take advantage of a free consultation.

Orange County Law and Ordinance Coverage Information Center

• What is law and ordinance coverage?
• Why do insurance companies deny law and ordinance claims?
• Where can I find more information about law and ordinance issues?

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Why People Need Law and Ordinance Coverage Florida

Homeowners insurance and commercial property insurance policies are designed to cover the costs or replacing or repairing damaged parts of a structure, but the limits of those policies are based on the pre-loss conditions of such properties.

Older homes and buildings are not required to comply with many current codes and ordinances because those restrictions did not exist when the structures were originally built. After a hurricane, fire, flood, or other type of unexpected event damages a home or building, rebuilding or repairing a structure can require complying with the most recent codes and ordinances.

When repairs require additional work to comply with building codes or ordinances, insurers deem such costs “improvements” and property owners can be responsible paying the extra expenses out of pocket. Law and ordinance insurance usually provides coverage for the three following types of coverage:

• Demolition and reconstruction of the undamaged part of a covered home, building, or other structure when a traditional insurance policy will only cover the costs relating to the damaged portion;
• Remodeling, removal, or replacement of the portion of the undamaged part of a covered home, building, or other structure when a traditional insurance policy will only cover the costs relating to the damaged portion; and
• Increased cost of construction relating to enhancements necessary for a covered home, building, or other structure.

A few examples of improvements that may be required include handicap accessibility, wider doorways, roof design, and sprinkler systems or other fire prevention requirements.

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Denial of Orlando Law and Ordinance Claims

Insurers will frequently look for reasons to deny law and ordinance claims. An insurance company may deny coverage because repair or replacement took too long or the insured allegedly failed to comply with a code or ordinance before the loss.

In some cases, an insurer may delay its investigation and settlement so long that it effectively denies coverage. Even when an insurance company does agree to cover a claim, it may only offer a settlement that is based on cheap labor and materials that tremendously undervalues the actual cost of the repairs that are actually needed.

An insurance lawyer can negotiate for a better settlement. If the insurer is unwilling to compromise, the attorney can take the insurance company to court in order to seek a fair settlement that honors the law and ordinance policy.

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Florida Law and Ordinance Coverage Resources

City of Orlando Permitting Division — Orlando’s Permitting Services Division inspects construction and also issues building permits and business licenses. On this website, you can learn more about residential and commercial permitting, forms, and fees. You can also schedule an appointment or inspection, renew an expired permit, and view the city code.

Law & Ordinance Coverage | Office of Insurance Regulation — As this January 2006 report prepared for Florida’s Office of Insurance regulation notes, many homeowner’s insurance policyholders were unaware of law and ordinance coverage before Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The report addresses the nature of law and ordinance coverage, reviews actions taken by the Florida Legislature to make such coverage available to residential property policyholders, and describes the insurance policy forms and rating factors relating to law and ordinance coverage used in Florida. You can view various tbales in this report relating to population growth and the number of residences constructed by locations in the Sunshine State.

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The Germain Law Group | Law and Ordinance Coverage Lawyer in Orlando, FL

If you are preparing to file or your insurer has already denied you law and ordinance claim, you may still have legal options. The Germain Law Group helps commercial property and homeowners throughout Orange County.

Orlando insurance law attorney Michael Germain also assists clients in communities in Indian River County, Okeechobee County, Brevard County, and Lake County. Call (813) 835-8888 or complete an online contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation that will let our lawyer review your claim.

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