Last reviewed: October 2026.

McGriff-Williams Insurance is an independent insurance agency in Gainesville, in business since 1983 and licensed in Florida. We serve Ocala and Marion County clients by phone, email and video from our Gainesville office, about 30 minutes away. This page is for owners of apartment complexes and commercial property in Marion County. Apartment owners are a major focus for us: we’ll review your buildings, rents and liability with you and explain the options in plain English.

Apartment complexes

Apartments come first for us in Marion County. Here’s what we review with apartment owners:

The exclusions that matter most on an apartment policy

On a Florida apartment community, the biggest gaps in general liability coverage usually aren’t in the limits. They’re in the exclusions. Two policies with the same $1M/$2M limits can respond very differently to the same claim, and the difference often sits in a single endorsement.

Assault and battery

Many apartment policies now exclude assault and battery claims outright or cap them with a sublimit, often $250,000 to $500,000, even when the rest of the policy carries $1 million or more. That matters because negligent security lawsuits, where a resident or guest is hurt by a criminal act and claims the property should have prevented it, are among the most serious claims an apartment owner can face.

Firearms and weapons

Firearms and weapons exclusions have become common across real estate. Some are written as “absolute” exclusions that reach any claim arising from a firearm, including claims that the owner failed to provide security or properly hired, trained or supervised staff.

Abuse and molestation, and human trafficking

Most insurers now exclude or sublimit sexual abuse and molestation claims, and human trafficking exclusions have become close to standard.

Why it matters in Florida

Florida courts have generally enforced these exclusions as written. When an assault, battery, firearms or abuse exclusion applies, the policy may not pay for a defense attorney, much less a settlement or verdict. For an owner, that can mean paying for the entire lawsuit out of pocket.

Don’t forget the umbrella

An umbrella or excess policy doesn’t always fill the gap. Some follow the primary policy’s exclusions, and some add their own. We check that the umbrella and the primary policy line up so there’s no surprise hole between them.

Florida’s safety checklist: a defense and an underwriting edge

Florida’s 2023 tort reform created a legal presumption against liability for apartment owners and operators who substantially put specific security measures in place (Fla. Stat. §768.0706). The measures include:

  • Security cameras at entry and exit points, with footage kept for at least 30 days
  • Parking lot lighting averaging at least 1.8 foot-candles from dusk to dawn
  • Lighting in walkways, laundry rooms, common areas and porches
  • 1-inch deadbolts on unit doors
  • Locks on windows and sliding doors
  • Key or fob access to pool gates
  • Peepholes on unit doors without a window
  • A crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) assessment no more than three years old, done by law enforcement or a Florida CPTED practitioner
  • Crime-deterrence and safety training for employees

Meeting the checklist helps in court, and it also helps with underwriters. A property that can document these measures is a stronger submission and can be in a better position to negotiate assault and battery terms.

How we help

  • We compare assault and battery, firearms and abuse wording line by line across quotes, not just the price and limits.
  • We look for markets that offer higher assault and battery sublimits, or none at all, for well-run properties.
  • We check that your umbrella follows your primary policy.
  • We help you document Florida’s security checklist for underwriters at renewal.

Not sure what your apartment policy excludes? Send us your current policy and we’ll walk you through your assault and battery, firearms and umbrella coverage. Call (352) 371-7977 or contact us.

Beyond the policy

For apartment and commercial property owners, we also offer:

  • Real estate lease reviews for insurance requirements
  • Guidance on reading certificates of insurance (COIs) from vendors and contractors who work on your properties
  • General liability and workers’ comp audit support
  • A personal insurance review for owners

What’s happening in the Ocala rental market

  • Ocala’s median rent was $1,800 in September 2026, down 2.7% from a year earlier, and Realtor.com calls the market “balanced.” By zip code, median rent was $2,500 in 34482, $2,100 in 34474 and $2,000 in 34471 (Realtor.com).
  • 43.4% of Marion County renters are severely cost-burdened, according to Census survey data for 2020-24 (Ocala Gazette).
  • Marion County eviction filings rose 18% in the first half of 2026, to 839 cases, the most for any January-June period since at least 2019. Foreclosures rose 39% in 2025 and another 11% in the first half of 2026 (Ocala Gazette).
  • The county has about 190,000 existing housing units and about 66,000 more in the development-approval stage (Ocala Gazette).
  • Amendment 3, which would lower the non-homestead assessment cap from 10% to 5%, is on the November 2026 ballot (Only In Ocala voter guide).

When rents soften and turnover rises, it’s a good time to make sure property values, rent-loss coverage and liability limits still fit the building.

Other commercial property

  • Lessor’s risk for owners who lease buildings to tenants
  • Retail, office, warehouse and medical buildings
  • The same review applies: property values, business income, liability and flood.

See also business insurance. Back to Ocala insurance.

Talk with us

Own apartments or commercial property in Marion County? Call (352) 371-7977 or contact us.

Call (352) 371-7977
Contact us

Sources

General information, not legal or coverage advice. Coverage depends on the policy issued, its terms and underwriting. Requirements current as of October 2026; confirm with your agent, insurer or Citizens. McGriff-Williams Insurance is an independent insurance agency licensed in Florida. We are not affiliated with FEMA, the NFIP or Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.