The 40-second answer
A wind mitigation inspection documents the hurricane-resistant features of your home — roof shape, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections, opening protection, and others. Florida law requires your insurance company to give you a premium discount based on what the inspection finds. You pay $75–$150 for the inspection. Your insurer is legally required to credit your premium. In South Florida, where base premiums are high, the math almost always works out strongly in your favor.
Quick facts
| | | |---|---| | Governing form | OIR-B1-1802 (updated April 2026) | | Validity | 5 years from inspection date | | Cost | $75–$150 standalone; often $200–$250 bundled with 4-point | | Who can inspect | Licensed contractors, home inspectors, engineers, architects | | Free option | My Safe Florida Home program (income-qualified) | | Law | Insurer is required to apply credits — not optional | | Best candidates | Homes built after 2002 in Miami-Dade or Broward |
Why South Florida homeowners get the best results
Wind mitigation credits exist across Florida, but South Florida homeowners benefit disproportionately for two reasons.
First, base premiums are higher. A 30% windstorm credit on a $3,000 Tampa premium saves $900/year. The same credit on a $9,000 Miami-Dade premium saves $2,700/year. The inspection cost is the same; the return isn't.
Second, South Florida homes are often better built than homeowners realize. Miami-Dade and Broward are the only two counties in Florida's High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) — rated for 175 mph and 170 mph wind speeds respectively. Every home built to code since 2002 was engineered to a much higher standard than the rest of the state. Impact-rated windows, hurricane straps, and heavy-gauge roof deck fasteners that homeowners take for granted are exactly what inspectors are looking for. Many South Florida homeowners are already sitting on a large unclaimed discount.
The 7 features an inspector evaluates
The inspection follows a standardized form (OIR-B1-1802) that covers seven categories. Each one can contribute credits — or not. Here's what to expect for South Florida homes:
1. Building code (wind speed design) Which building code your home was built under. Homes built in Miami-Dade or Broward under the Florida Building Code (2002 or later) automatically fall in the highest wind speed region (HVHZ, 170–175 mph). This alone earns the top credit in this category without any special features.
2. Roof covering What your roof is made of and when it was installed. Newer roofs with documented permits score better than older ones. The inspector will want to confirm the permit date — which is exactly why your roof permit record matters. An inspector who can verify a recent, closed permit assigns higher confidence to this category.
3. Roof deck attachment How the plywood or OSB sheathing is fastened to the roof structure. 8d ring-shank nails at 6-inch spacing is the highest rating; 6d smooth nails at wider spacing is the lowest. The inspector needs attic access to verify. Most post-2002 South Florida homes score well here.
4. Roof-to-wall connection How the roof is attached to the walls. Double wraps (a hurricane strap that wraps completely around the rafter) earn the highest credit. Single wraps and clips earn progressively less. Homes built in HVHZ under post-2002 code tend to have wraps; older homes often have only toenails (the lowest rating, no credit).
5. Roof shape Hip roofs (four sloping sides, no gable ends) earn the highest credit — they shed wind load more uniformly. Gable roofs with large gable ends earn the least. Flat commercial-style roofs fall in between. South Florida has proportionally more hip roofs than Central or North Florida, which is another structural advantage.
6. Secondary water resistance (SWR) A rubberized membrane (peel-and-stick underlayment) under the roof covering that prevents water intrusion if the roof covering blows off. Homes with SWR earn a meaningful credit. Most Miami-Dade and Broward homes built or re-roofed after the 2004-2005 hurricane seasons have this; many older homes don't.
7. Opening protection The rating of your windows, doors, and skylights against windborne debris. This is where South Florida's HVHZ advantage is clearest: any home built or substantially renovated in Miami-Dade or Broward after 2001 was required by code to install impact-rated openings. Homeowners who installed impact windows for security or noise reasons often don't realize they've also earned the highest opening protection credit — which can be several hundred dollars per year by itself.
The April 2026 form change — what's new and what it means
The OIR-B1-1802 form was updated in April 2026, the first revision since 2012. Two new data fields were added:
- Region (design wind speed): Explicitly records whether the home is in HVHZ or the general Florida wind zone. This codifies the geographic credit that previously lived in the building code category.
- Roof slope: Added to improve precision on the roof shape credit calculation, which affects how wind loads travel across the structure.
What this means if you have an existing report: Reports issued under the prior form remain valid until their 5-year expiration. You don't need to get re-inspected early.
What this means if you're getting a new inspection: Inspectors will need to document more details, particularly around the new fields. Expect slightly longer inspections — plan for 60-90 minutes rather than 45. Costs may edge up slightly ($10–$20) as a result.
Why the new form is good for Miami-Dade and Broward homeowners: The explicit Region field puts HVHZ homes in the top wind speed tier by default, which removes ambiguity about whether certain credits apply. If you're in one of these two counties, the new form makes it easier for your insurer to confirm the highest applicable credits.
How much can you actually save? A South Florida example
These numbers are illustrative based on OIR-B1-1699 credit schedule ranges and South Florida market premium levels.
Home: 1,800 sq ft, single-family, Miami-Dade County
Annual premium: $9,000
Windstorm portion: ~65% = $5,850
| Feature | Result | Credit (approx.) | |---------|--------|-----------------| | Building code (HVHZ) | Top tier | $300–$500 | | Roof covering (permitted 2018) | High | $200–$400 | | Roof deck (8d ring shank) | Top tier | $300–$500 | | Roof-to-wall (double wrap) | Top tier | $400–$700 | | Roof shape (hip) | Top tier | $400–$700 | | Secondary water resistance | Yes | $200–$400 | | Opening protection (impact glass) | Top tier | $500–$800 | | Total estimated savings | | $2,300–$4,000/year |
Worst-case scenario — a 1990s gable-roof home with original windows and no hurricane straps: credits apply mainly to building code and possibly roof deck if attic shows good nailing. Realistic savings: $400–$800/year. Still a 3-6x return on the inspection cost in year one.
Break-even: a $125 inspection amortized over 5 years is $25/year. The inspection pays for itself in the first month even in the worst-case scenario.
What the inspection costs and how to get one free
Paid inspection: $75–$150 standalone. If you're also due for a 4-point inspection (required for older homes to get insurance), bundle them — most inspectors charge $200–$250 for both, saving you $50–$100.
Free through My Safe Florida Home: The state program offers free wind mitigation inspections and matching grants up to $10,000 for qualifying upgrades (new roof, impact windows, doors). Funding is available; eligibility requires the home to be your primary residence and meet income thresholds (varies by county). Apply at mysafefloridahome.com.
The grant program is genuinely worth exploring if your home needs impact windows or a new roof. A $10,000 grant that also earns you $2,000/year in insurance savings is a very different financial calculation than a $15,000 out-of-pocket window replacement.
Who can perform the inspection
- Licensed general contractor — added by HB 1611 (effective July 2024); often the most accessible and cost-effective
- Licensed home inspector — widely available; may be slightly more conservative in ratings
- Licensed engineer or architect — most thorough and most expensive; useful if an insurer disputes a prior report
One thing to ask before hiring: whether the inspector is familiar with HVHZ-specific documentation requirements. An inspector who primarily works in Central Florida may not know the specific Miami-Dade NOA requirements or HVHZ building code sections that affect how they document certain features.
If you're buying or selling — wind mitigation reports in transactions
Sellers: A valid wind mitigation report is a negotiating asset. If your home scores well, the savings are transferable information — a buyer can see exactly what their insurance premium will look like. Disclose it and price it in.
Buyers: Request any existing wind mitigation report as part of your due diligence package. If the sellers don't have one (common on older homes), order one during your inspection period. The results directly affect your insurance quote, which you should be getting before your inspection contingency expires anyway.
Transfer: A wind mitigation report can transfer to a new buyer if it hasn't expired and no material changes were made to the covered features. Ask your insurance agent — some carriers require a new inspection for a new owner, others accept the prior report.
The roof permit date is one of the documents inspectors now use to verify the roof covering category. If you're buying a home and want to confirm the roof's actual installation date before the inspection window closes, you can look it up:
How to submit your report and claim the credit
- Get the completed OIR-B1-1802 form from your inspector (PDF)
- Send it to your insurance agent or directly to your carrier before your next renewal
- The insurer is required by Florida law to recalculate your premium with applicable credits
- You'll see the adjustment on your renewal declaration page — typically within 30 days of submission
If you submit mid-policy, some carriers will issue a prorated refund for the remaining policy period. Ask your agent.
If your insurer disputes a feature rating — for example, they claim your roof deck attachment doesn't qualify for the top tier — you can get a second inspector's report and submit that. The insurer must accept a properly completed report from any qualified inspector.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a wind mitigation report valid in Florida? 5 years from the inspection date. After that, you need a new inspection.
Does a wind mitigation inspection help with roof age requirements? Indirectly. The report documents your roof covering (feature #2), which can support the case that your roof is in good condition — but it's not a substitute for the formal roof inspection required under Florida's 15-year rule. See how the 15-year rule works →
What if my home was built before 2002? Pre-2002 homes score lower on the building code category, and are less likely to have hurricane straps or impact glass. You can still get credits for whatever features exist — but the savings will be lower. Worth doing, just set expectations accordingly.
Do I need a new inspection if I replace my roof? Yes, if the new roof changes any of the rated features (roof covering, deck attachment, SWR, shape). A new inspection after a re-roof typically produces better results and higher credits — many homeowners recoup part of the replacement cost through lower premiums within a few years.
Will all seven features always qualify for credits? No. Credits are only applied to features that meet the applicable rating threshold. A home where only 3-4 features qualify will see a smaller discount than one where all 7 qualify. The inspection is still worth doing — you want to know what you're eligible for.
Is the wind mitigation inspection the same as a 4-point inspection? No. A 4-point inspection covers roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical for insurance underwriting purposes — it's about whether the insurer will write your policy at all. A wind mitigation inspection is only about hurricane-resistant features, and it determines your discount. Different purpose, different form, different outcome.
Sources: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (floir.gov), OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26), Florida House Bill 1611 (2024), My Safe Florida Home program (mysafefloridahome.com). Last reviewed May 2026.
MyPropFile is not a licensed insurance agent. This is informational guidance based on public statute and market practice — not legal or insurance advice. Coverage decisions should be made in consultation with a licensed insurance professional.