What Insurance Do Florida Marinas Actually Require?

Marina Slip Agreements and Insurance: What to Expect

Before you can sign a slip agreement at virtually any Florida marina, the marina will require proof that you carry marine insurance meeting their minimum specifications. This requirement protects the marina's liability and also protects you — it ensures that the boats sharing your marina environment are covered for at least the most fundamental liability risks. Understanding what Florida marinas typically require, and how to satisfy those requirements quickly, smooths the process of securing your slip and starting your marina relationship on the right foot.

Minimum Liability Limits: The Standard Marina Requirement

The most universal marina insurance requirement is minimum liability coverage — bodily injury and property damage liability combined. Common requirements by marina type:

• Small recreational marinas and boat clubs: Typically require $100,000 to $300,000 in combined liability. The most common minimum in this segment is $300,000 per occurrence.
• Mid-size full-service marinas: $300,000 to $500,000 in combined liability. Many established Florida full-service marinas now require $300,000 as a floor, with some requiring $500,000 for vessels over 40 feet.
• Premium marinas and superyacht facilities: Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Miami, and the Keys host marinas that cater to large yachts and superyachts. These facilities commonly require $500,000 to $1,000,000 in liability, reflecting the high values of the vessels sharing their facilities and the correspondingly higher risk of significant property damage claims.
• Liveaboard slip agreements: Marinas that permit liveaboards typically require higher liability limits — $300,000 to $500,000 minimum — and may additionally require contents coverage at replacement cost if the vessel is a primary residence.

How Marinas Verify Your Coverage: The Certificate of Insurance

Florida marinas do not accept verbal assurances of coverage — they require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) from your insurer. A COI is a standardized document (the ACORD 25 form is standard in the industry) that confirms you carry coverage meeting specified requirements. Key elements of a marina-acceptable COI:

• Your insurer's name, A.M. Best financial rating, and admitted vs non-admitted status
• Policy number and effective/expiration dates
• Coverage types listed with specific limits
• The marina listed as a "certificate holder" — meaning they receive notification if your policy is cancelled or non-renewed
• Some marinas request to be listed as "additional interested party" rather than just certificate holder

Your marine insurer or broker can issue a COI within minutes of your request — it is a simple, free document that most carriers provide through their online portals or by email from your broker.

Hull Coverage Requirements

Some Florida marinas — particularly lenders who have financed marina infrastructure — require slip holders to maintain hull coverage on their vessels in addition to liability. This is less universal than the liability requirement but worth confirming with your specific marina. If hull coverage is required, the marina may specify a minimum insured value or require agreed value rather than ACV coverage.

Annual Verification and Policy Renewal

Marina COI requirements do not end when you sign the slip agreement. Most marina slip agreements require you to maintain continuous coverage and provide updated COIs at each annual policy renewal. Marina management will often contact slip holders proactively to request renewal COIs before coverage expiration. Allowing your policy to lapse — even for a brief period between an old policy expiring and a new one binding — can trigger a marina lease violation. Ensure your renewal policy is in place before your current policy expires, not after.

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