What is a wind mitigation inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection documents the storm-resistant features of your home (the roof covering, how the roof attaches to the walls, the roof shape, and whether your windows and doors are protected) so your insurer can apply premium discounts. In Florida, those discounts aren't optional for insurers: state law requires every residential property insurer to offer credits for qualifying wind-mitigation features. For most Central Florida homeowners, this inexpensive inspection is one of the few ways to actively lower a homeowners premium.
Key takeaways
- A wind mitigation inspection documents wind-resistant features to earn insurance discounts.
- Florida law (Statute 627.0629) requires insurers to offer these mitigation credits.
- Discounts apply to the windstorm portion of your premium, often a large share in Florida.
- Homes built to the 2001 Florida Building Code or later automatically qualify for a minimum 68% discount on windstorm coverage, per the state's consumer guide.
- The uniform form (OIR-B1-1802) is valid up to five years.
- It typically costs $75–$150, often free through My Safe Florida Home when the program is funded, and usually pays for itself in the first year.
Table of contents
- What it documents
- The discounts and the law
- How much can you actually save?
- What it costs and how long it lasts
- Can you get the inspection free?
- Wind mitigation vs. 4-point
- How to improve your wind mitigation score
- Getting the credit applied
- Who can perform one
- Where to start
- FAQ
What it documents
The inspection records specific construction features that make a home more likely to survive a hurricane intact. Each one can translate into a discount:
| Feature | Why it earns a credit |
|---|---|
| Roof covering | Whether it meets current Florida Building Code |
| Roof deck attachment | Nail size and spacing holding the deck down |
| Roof-to-wall connection | Clips, single wraps, or double wraps vs. toe-nails |
| Roof shape | Hip roofs shed wind better than gable roofs |
| Secondary water resistance | A barrier that keeps water out if shingles fail |
| Opening protection | Impact-rated windows, doors, and shutters |
The strongest combinations (a hip roof, double-wrap straps, a code-compliant covering, a secondary water barrier, and full opening protection) earn the deepest discounts. Even an older home often qualifies for more than the owner expects, especially if it's had a re-roof done to current code. If terms like "roof-to-wall connection" mean nothing to you, our wind mitigation credit calculator includes labeled diagrams of each feature, so you can see what the inspector will be looking at in your attic.
The discounts and the law
Here's why this inspection is worth your time. Under Section 627.0629, Florida Statutes, every residential property insurer in the state must offer premium discounts, credits, or rate differentials for documented wind-mitigation features. This isn't a courtesy; it's a legal requirement, and the credits are documented on a standardized state form.
The discounts apply to the windstorm portion of your premium, which in Florida is frequently a large share of the total bill. The state's Office of Insurance Regulation wind mitigation resources explain the program, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management publishes guidance on the mitigation features themselves. As of the 2026 revision, the uniform form was updated with new discount tables and stricter documentation for impact windows, roof coverings, and roof-to-wall connections.
How much can you actually save?
The honest answer is a range, because every carrier files its own credit table with the state. But there is one hard number: the state's consumer guide to mitigation discounts says homes built in compliance with the 2001 Florida Building Code or later are automatically eligible for a minimum 68% discount on the windstorm portion of the premium. Older homes earn credits feature by feature, with roof-to-wall attachment and opening protection usually carrying the most weight.
What a credit is worth in dollars depends on how much of your bill is wind. Near the coast, windstorm coverage can be more than half the premium; inland around Orlando, Clermont, or Lakeland it's often closer to a third. The same hip roof saves more in St. Petersburg than in Winter Park.
A worked example: on a $4,200 annual premium for an inland Central Florida home, roughly $1,470 of the bill is windstorm coverage. A home with strong features across the board (FBC roof, wrapped trusses, hip shape, full opening protection) estimates at about $1,000 a year in credits. Run your own numbers in two minutes with our free wind mitigation credit calculator; it walks the same six questions the inspector answers on the state form.
What it costs and how long it lasts
A wind mitigation inspection typically costs about $75–$150, paid by the homeowner. Because the discounts recur every year you hold the policy, the inspection often pays for itself in the first year or two, and then keeps saving you money after that.
The resulting uniform mitigation verification form (OIR-B1-1802) is valid for up to five years, as long as you make no material changes to the structure and the form contains no inaccuracies. After five years, or sooner if you make a qualifying upgrade like new impact windows, you renew it with a fresh inspection.
Can you get the inspection free?
Sometimes, and it's worth checking before you book. The state's My Safe Florida Home program (mysafeflhome.com) has offered free wind mitigation inspections to eligible homeowners when the Legislature funds it, along with matching grants toward hardening upgrades like opening protection. Funding comes and goes by budget year and applications open in waves, so availability isn't guaranteed at any given moment.
If the program is closed when you check, don't let that stall you. The $75–$150 out-of-pocket cost is small against five years of recurring credits, and you can still apply for a grant later if the program reopens.
Wind mitigation vs. 4-point
These two inspections are easy to mix up, but they do different jobs. A 4-point inspection assesses the condition of your roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC to decide whether the home is insurable. It's about getting coverage, usually on older homes. A wind mitigation inspection documents wind-resistant features to lower the premium. It's about paying less.
You're not choosing between them. Many Florida homeowners get the 4-point because a carrier requires it, and the wind mitigation report because it saves money, often in the same visit. If you're already paying for an inspector on an older home, ask about doing both.
How to improve your wind mitigation score
If your inspection comes back light on credits, several upgrades can earn more, and many double as real storm protection. Opening protection is often the highest-value move: impact-rated windows or hurricane shutters on every opening can unlock a significant credit, and our guide to shutters vs. impact windows compares the options. Be aware that opening protection is all-or-nothing on the form: every window, door, skylight, and the garage door must be covered before the credit lands, so a partial job earns nothing.
A re-roof to current code can upgrade your roof covering, deck attachment, and secondary water resistance all at once. The catch is sequencing: do the upgrade, then re-inspect to capture the new credits on a fresh form. Spending on impact windows and never updating your mitigation form means leaving the discount on the table. If a re-roof is already on your horizon because of your roof's Florida lifespan, plan the wind mitigation re-inspection to follow it.
Getting the credit applied
The form doesn't save you anything sitting in a drawer. Send the completed 1802 to your insurance agent and confirm the carrier has applied the credits. Carriers will typically apply mitigation credits mid-term once they receive the form, and many will refund the difference back to the start of your current policy period. Ask specifically about a retroactive adjustment rather than waiting for renewal.
Keep a copy of the form. When you shop policies, handing a current 1802 to every quoting agent means each quote prices in your discounts from day one, which makes quotes genuinely comparable.
Who can perform one
The inspection must be completed by an authorized inspector: typically a licensed home inspector, a general or roofing contractor, a building-code inspector, an architect, or an engineer. Insurers will not accept a homeowner's self-assessment; the value of the form is that an authorized professional has verified each feature.
When booking, confirm the inspector regularly performs wind mitigation inspections and provides the current OIR-B1-1802 form. A thorough inspector who knows the form well will document every feature you qualify for, rather than rushing and missing a credit you're entitled to.
Where to start
Start by checking whether you've ever had a wind mitigation inspection, and whether the form is still within its five-year window. If not, getting one is among the cheapest ways to cut a Florida premium: check My Safe Florida Home for a free inspection first, estimate your likely credits with the calculator, then book an authorized inspector. To strengthen your score, our hurricane shutters directory and Tampa city page list local companies for opening protection, with more across the full directory. Hand the finished form to your insurer, ask about a retroactive adjustment, and re-inspect after any qualifying upgrade.
FAQ
What is a wind mitigation inspection? It's an inspection that documents a home's wind-resistant features (roof covering, roof-to-wall connections, roof shape, secondary water barriers, and opening protection) on Florida's uniform form so insurers can apply premium discounts.
How much does a wind mitigation inspection cost in Florida? Usually about $75–$150, paid by the homeowner. Because it can earn ongoing premium discounts, it often pays for itself in the first year or two of policy savings.
How much can a wind mitigation inspection save me? Discounts apply to the windstorm portion of your premium, often a large share of a Florida policy. The state's consumer guide says homes built to the 2001 Florida Building Code or later automatically qualify for a minimum 68% discount on windstorm coverage, and older homes earn credits feature by feature.
Can I get a wind mitigation inspection for free? Sometimes. The state's My Safe Florida Home program has offered free wind mitigation inspections to eligible homeowners when the Legislature funds it, along with matching grants for hardening upgrades. Availability comes and goes by budget year, so check the program site.
How long is a wind mitigation inspection good for? Florida's uniform mitigation form (OIR-B1-1802) is valid for up to five years, provided no material changes are made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found. After that, you renew it with a new inspection.
Which wind mitigation feature saves the most? Usually roof-to-wall attachment and opening protection. Double or single wraps on the trusses carry the most weight on the form, and hurricane-rated protection on every opening is close behind. A hip roof earns a credit a gable roof does not.
Can the credit apply to a policy I already have? Generally yes. Carriers typically apply mitigation credits mid-term once they receive the form, and many will refund the difference back to the start of the current policy period. Ask your agent specifically about a retroactive adjustment.
Who can perform a wind mitigation inspection in Florida? An authorized inspector: typically a licensed home inspector, general or roofing contractor, building inspector, architect, or engineer. Insurers won't accept a homeowner's self-assessment.