October 25, 2026
Wind Mitigation Inspection in Florida: What Homeowners Need to Know
Florida homeowners pay some of the highest homeowner's insurance premiums in the country — and a wind mitigation inspection is one of the few tools that can meaningfully lower that bill. A wind mitigation inspection documents the hurricane-resistant features of your home and produces a standardized report that your insurance carrier uses to calculate premium credits. Florida law — specifically Florida Statute §627.0629 — requires insurers to offer discounts for verified wind-resistant construction. Understanding what the inspection covers, what credits are available, and which improvements require a building permit can help you maximize those savings while staying on the right side of Florida's permitting requirements.
What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection in Florida?
A wind mitigation inspection is a formal evaluation of your home's construction features that resist hurricane-force wind damage. Unlike a four-point inspection — which assesses the insurable condition of four aging systems — a wind mitigation inspection is entirely focused on structural and envelope features that reduce the risk of storm damage. The inspector completes a standardized state form called the OIR-B1-1802 Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, which was updated effective April 1, 2026 under the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). The completed form is submitted to your insurance carrier, which then applies credits to your premium based on what the form documents.
A wind mitigation inspection is not required by Florida law — it is entirely voluntary. But because Florida statute §627.0629 requires insurers to offer premium discounts for homes with documented wind-resistant features, the inspection frequently pays for itself in the first year's savings. Homes built after the Florida Building Code was strengthened in 2002 often qualify for the largest credits; older homes can still earn credits for features that meet the code even if the house predates it.
What Does the Wind Mitigation Inspector Look For?
The OIR-B1-1802 form organizes the inspection into six credit categories. The inspector evaluates each one and documents the result with photographs:
- Building Code (Year Built): Homes permitted after March 1, 2002 — when Florida's strengthened statewide Building Code took effect — automatically receive a base credit. The inspector verifies the original permit date.
- Roof Geometry: The shape of your roof has a large impact on wind resistance. A hip roof (four sloping sides that meet at a ridge) performs significantly better in hurricane winds than a gable roof (two sloping sides with vertical triangular ends). The inspector documents the dominant roof shape. Hip roofs earn a larger premium credit; gable roofs earn less or none, depending on the carrier.
- Roof Deck Attachment: The inspector examines the method and pattern used to fasten the roof sheathing to the roof framing — looking at nail type, nail length, and nail spacing. Closer nail spacing and larger nails (for example, 8d ring-shank nails at 6-inch spacing) earn a larger credit than the minimum code spacing. This is evaluated during the inspection through the attic or, on re-roofing projects, directly.
- Roof-to-Wall Connections: How the roof framing connects to the wall structure is critical to preventing the roof from lifting off the walls in high winds. The inspector looks for toe-nails (minimum standard), clips, single wraps, double wraps, or anchor bolts. Stronger connections earn larger credits. Upgrading to clips or wraps during a roof replacement is a common way to improve the score.
- Roof Covering: The inspector verifies that the roof covering carries a Florida Product Approval number, demonstrating it was tested and approved for Florida wind speeds. Newer roofs installed under permit are typically covered with Florida-approved products by default.
- Opening Protection: Doors, windows, skylights, and garage doors are the most vulnerable openings in a hurricane. The inspector documents whether each opening is protected by rated impact-resistant glazing (impact windows and doors) or rated hurricane shutters. Full coverage of all openings — including garage doors — with code-compliant protection earns the largest opening protection credit.
Some carriers also consider Secondary Water Resistance (SWR) — a self-adhering underlayment installed beneath the roof covering that prevents water intrusion if the outer roofing is damaged. SWR is not a standalone credit category on all forms, but carriers with their own discount schedules may factor it in separately.
Which Improvements Require a Building Permit in Florida?
The most impactful improvements to a wind mitigation score — and the ones most likely to reduce your insurance premium — almost always require a Florida building permit. This is important: unpermitted improvements are not only a code violation, they may also be disqualified from the wind mitigation credit if the inspector cannot verify the installation was inspected and meets the required standard. Installing hurricane shutters or impact windows without a permit and then claiming the wind mitigation credit is a path that can unravel at claim time.
- Hurricane shutters: Installing rated panel shutters, accordion shutters, roll-down shutters, or fabric systems on windows and doors requires a permit in Florida. See our guide on hurricane shutter permits in Florida for the full process.
- Impact windows and doors: Replacing standard windows and doors with impact-resistant glazing (which qualifies for the opening protection credit) always requires a permit. Our impact window permit guide covers the requirements statewide.
- Roof replacement: A new roof — whether to improve the deck attachment pattern, switch to a hip geometry, or install a new Florida-approved covering — always requires a roof permit. The permit inspection is also the moment when roof-to-wall connection upgrades are verified. See our Florida roof permit guide for what the inspection process involves.
If you are bundling a wind mitigation improvement with a planned re-roof, this is the most efficient time to upgrade roof-to-wall connections and deck attachment — both are accessible during the roofing work and both influence your wind mitigation score. Discuss these upgrades with your roofing contractor before the permit is pulled so the scope is correctly documented in the permit application.
Who Can Perform a Wind Mitigation Inspection in Florida?
The OIR-B1-1802 form must be completed and signed by one of the following Florida-licensed professionals:
- Florida-licensed home inspectors (Chapter 468, Part XV, Florida Statutes)
- Florida-licensed general, residential, or building contractors
- Florida-licensed engineers or architects
Many Florida homeowners bundle the wind mitigation inspection with a four-point inspection, since both are commonly required by insurers and both can be performed by the same inspector in the same visit. A bundled inspection package typically runs $150 to $250 statewide. A standalone wind mitigation inspection generally costs $75 to $150. You can verify a Florida inspector's active license through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's (DBPR) online license lookup before hiring.
How Long Is a Wind Mitigation Report Valid in Florida?
A completed OIR-B1-1802 wind mitigation report is generally valid for five years from the date of the inspection. After five years, your insurer may require a new inspection before continuing to apply the premium credits. If you make a significant improvement during the validity period — such as replacing the roof or installing impact windows — you can schedule a new inspection immediately to capture the updated credits rather than waiting for the report to expire. The credits often increase enough after a qualifying improvement to more than offset the cost of the new inspection within the first policy renewal.
Major Florida markets including Hillsborough County, Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County have competitive inspector markets with relatively quick scheduling. If your home qualifies for significant credits, prioritizing the inspection before your next renewal date maximizes the time you collect those savings.
Planning a wind mitigation upgrade? Tell us about your project and we'll connect you with a licensed permit professional in your Florida county who can help ensure your improvements are properly permitted — so your wind mitigation credits hold up at claim time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a wind mitigation inspection required in Florida?
No. A wind mitigation inspection is entirely voluntary. However, Florida Statute §627.0629 requires homeowners insurance carriers to offer premium discounts for homes with documented wind-resistant features, so the inspection can result in significant savings. It is not required by Florida building code or by any government agency — it is an insurance underwriting tool you choose to use.
What does a Florida wind mitigation inspection check?
The inspector evaluates six categories using the OIR-B1-1802 form: building code compliance year, roof geometry (hip vs. gable), roof deck attachment method and spacing, roof-to-wall connection type (toe-nails, clips, wraps, or anchor bolts), roof covering product approval status, and opening protection (impact windows/doors or rated hurricane shutters). Each category that meets a qualifying standard earns a premium credit from your insurer.
How much does a wind mitigation inspection cost in Florida?
A standalone wind mitigation inspection typically costs $75 to $150. Bundled with a four-point inspection, the combined package usually runs $150 to $250. The inspection almost always pays for itself in the first year's premium savings for homes that qualify for credits.
How long is a wind mitigation report valid in Florida?
A wind mitigation report completed on the OIR-B1-1802 form is generally valid for five years. After that, your insurer may require a new inspection before continuing to apply credits. If you make a qualifying improvement — such as a roof replacement or installing impact windows — you can request a new inspection immediately to capture updated credits.
Do wind mitigation improvements require building permits in Florida?
Yes. The improvements that most affect your wind mitigation score — hurricane shutters, impact windows and doors, and roof replacement — all require building permits in Florida. Unpermitted improvements may not qualify for wind mitigation credits, and an insurer can deny coverage for an improvement that was not properly permitted and inspected. Always pull the required permit before starting the work.