Construction Insurance for Jacksonville and St. Johns County Builders

Builders risk insurance covers the structure under construction plus on-site materials, scaffolding and equipment against fire, theft, vandalism and wind. It does not cover design errors or defective workmanship, which need professional liability and completed-operations coverage kept in force through Florida's seven-year defect repose (FS 95.11(3)(b)). Duval County authorized 6,017 housing units and St. Johns County 4,735 in 2025.

Builders risk, GL and workers' comp for Jacksonville and St. Johns County projects: 2025 permit volumes, the seven-year defect repose. Free quote.

Figures reviewed against Florida Statutes and carrier bulletins on September 27, 2026.

Construction insurance in Jacksonville and St. Johns County

Two counties, two very different pipelines: Duval's mix of infill, multifamily and industrial work, and St. Johns County's master-planned residential growth along SR 207, CR 210 and Nocatee.

Jacksonville and Duval County projects

Duval authorized 6,017 housing units in 2025, including 2,253 units in 69 buildings of five or more, about $1.13 billion of residential permit value; JAXPORT's 10.2 million tons of fiscal-2025 cargo keeps the industrial and warehouse pipeline moving alongside it.

Builders risk covers the structure, materials on site and in transit, scaffolding and temporary works against fire, wind and theft from the day materials arrive until the project is complete or occupied; Duval's lenders ask for the certificate at the first draw and for the named-storm deductible in dollars, not percentages.
Construction-defect suits run on FS 95.11(3)(b): four years from the earliest of the temporary certificate of occupancy, certificate of occupancy, certificate of completion or abandonment (latent defects from discovery), inside an absolute seven-year repose, with each building in a multi-building project treated as its own improvement.
Coverage is mandatory at four or more employees for most employers and from the very first employee in construction (FS 440.02(20)(b)2.); OIR approved a 6.9% statewide rate decrease for new and renewal policies from January 1, 2026, the ninth consecutive annual cut.
General contractors collect subcontractor certificates showing GL, workers' compensation or valid exemptions and additional-insured wording before the first day on site; the state's licensing floor for those subs is $300,000/$50,000 (general and building) or $100,000/$25,000 (all other trades) under Rule 61G4-15.003.

St. Augustine and St. Johns County projects

St. Johns County authorized 4,735 housing units worth about $1.20 billion in 2025, 3,554 of them single-family, and certified about 1,165 acres of agricultural enclaves for homes along SR 207 on August 19, 2026.

Master-planned phases in Nocatee, SilverLeaf and the SR 207 corridor are multi-building projects; under FS 95.11(3)(b) each building starts its own limitations clock, so completed-operations coverage has to stay in force building by building, not phase by phase.
Coastal and Intracoastal sites carry wind and flood exposure on the unfinished structure itself; builders risk forms price the named-storm deductible separately, and the federal flood program's 30-day waiting period applies to a builders flood policy just as it does to a home.
A stop-work order takes effect at every non-compliant worksite you have in Florida, carries a penalty of twice the premium you avoided (minimum $1,000, with a 24-month look-back for concealed payroll or repeat offenders), and stays on the state's website for at least five years (FS 440.107(7)).

Privately owned residential construction authorized in 2025 (U.S. Census Building Permits Survey)

County	Single-family units	Units in 5+ unit buildings	All units	Permit valuation
Duval	3,732	2,253 (69 buildings)	6,017	about $1.13 billion
St. Johns	3,554	1,039 (34 buildings)	4,735	about $1.20 billion

Totals are the sum of the Census county file's single-family, 2-unit, 3-4 unit and 5+ unit rows and include imputed values; commercial construction is not in this survey.

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Data sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How long after a Florida project is finished can a construction-defect claim be filed?

Four years from the earliest of the temporary certificate of occupancy, certificate of occupancy, certificate of completion or abandonment of construction, with latent defects running from discovery, but never later than seven years after that same date (FS 95.11(3)(b)). In a multi-building project each building is its own improvement with its own clock.

How long should a Florida contractor keep completed-operations coverage?

Keep completed-operations coverage in force through the repose period, which ends seven years after the earliest of the temporary certificate of occupancy, certificate of occupancy, certificate of completion or abandonment of construction (FS 95.11(3)(b)). The policy in effect when the damage occurs is the one that responds.

How much residential construction was permitted in Duval and St. Johns counties in 2025?

The Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey shows Duval County authorized 6,017 privately owned housing units in 2025 (3,732 single-family and 2,253 in buildings of five or more units) worth about $1.13 billion. St. Johns County authorized 4,735 units (3,554 single-family and 1,039 in 5+ unit buildings) worth about $1.20 billion. Those figures cover residential permits only.

What's included in a builder's risk insurance policy?

Builder's risk covers the structure under construction, materials stored on-site, temporary structures, scaffolding, and equipment used in construction. It protects against fire, theft, vandalism, wind, and other covered perils. It typically covers materials in transit and stored off-site. Coverage begins when materials arrive on-site and ends when the project is complete, occupied, or the owner's property insurance takes effect.

Who should purchase builder's risk insurance—owner or contractor?

Either party can purchase builder's risk, but it's typically specified in the construction contract. General contractors often buy it and include the cost in their bid. Property owners sometimes purchase it directly for large projects. The policy should name all parties with an insurable interest—owner, general contractor, subcontractors, and lender—as named insureds or additional insureds.

Does builder's risk cover design errors and construction defects?

No, builder's risk only covers physical damage to the project from covered perils (fire, theft, weather). It doesn't cover faulty workmanship, design errors, or construction defects. You need professional liability insurance (for design errors) and completed operations coverage (for defective work claims after project completion). General liability covers accidents during construction but not defective workmanship itself.

What is installation floater coverage?

Installation floater (also called rigging coverage) protects materials, equipment, and fixtures during transit to the job site and while being installed. It covers damage during unloading, hoisting, positioning, and installation. This is crucial for expensive items like HVAC systems, elevators, glass, and specialty equipment. Builder's risk may not cover these items during the installation process—installation floater fills that gap.

Do I need pollution liability for construction projects?

Yes, especially for projects involving excavation, demolition, or soil disturbance. Pollution liability covers cleanup costs and third-party claims if your construction activities cause environmental contamination—fuel spills, asbestos disturbance, lead paint, or soil contamination. Standard general liability policies exclude pollution. Many project owners and lenders require contractors to carry pollution liability coverage.

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