The Short Answer
A wind mitigation inspection is a short visit, usually under an hour, where a qualified inspector records how well your home is built to resist hurricane winds. The inspector fills out Florida's official form, which you send to your insurance company. Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for wind-resistant features, so if your home has them, the inspection can lower your premium. For most Florida homeowners it is worth it: the inspection is a one-time cost, and the form stays valid for up to five years.
What the Inspector Checks
The inspector completes the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, known as form OIR-B1-1802. It covers:
- Building code: whether the home was built to the Florida Building Code that took effect in 2002 or later.
- Roof covering: the type of roof and whether it meets current code.
- Roof deck attachment: how the plywood under the roof covering is nailed down.
- Roof-to-wall attachment: whether the roof is held to the walls by clips, single straps or double straps.
- Roof shape: hip roofs (sloping on all four sides) hold up better in wind than gable roofs.
- Secondary water resistance: a sealed layer under the roof covering that keeps water out if the covering blows off.
- Opening protection: impact windows, shutters, doors, garage doors and skylights.
A new version of the form took effect on April 1, 2026. It adds spaces for FORTIFIED Home certificates, the home's wind-speed region and roof slope. If nothing on your home has changed, insurers such as Citizens continue to accept a form on the previous version that was completed within the five years before April 1, 2026.
Who Can Do the Inspection
Florida law (section 627.711) requires your insurer to accept the form when it is signed by any of these:
- A licensed home inspector who has completed at least three hours of approved hurricane mitigation training and passed the proficiency exam
- A certified building code inspector
- A licensed general, building or residential contractor
- A licensed professional engineer
- A licensed architect
Insurers may accept forms from other people, but they are not required to. Ask the inspector which license they hold before you book.
What It Costs
The inspection is free if you qualify through the state's My Safe Florida Home program, which requires a homestead exemption on a site-built, single-family home you live in.
Otherwise, private inspectors set their own prices. Most standalone wind mitigation inspections in Florida run about $75 to $150, and many inspectors offer a lower combined price when you also need a four-point inspection for your insurer. Prices tend to be higher in South Florida and for larger homes.
How the Discounts Work
Under section 627.0629, Florida insurers must offer reasonable discounts, credits or other rate reductions for features that reduce wind damage, including roof strength, roof-to-wall strength and opening protection. Your insurer must also send you a notice listing the discounts it offers when your policy is issued and at each renewal.
The size of the discount depends on your insurer and on which features your home has. The biggest credits usually come from a hip roof, strong roof-to-wall connections, secondary water resistance and protection on every opening. A home with none of these features may see little change. The inspection still tells you which upgrades would earn the largest discount.
How Long the Report Lasts
According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, the form is valid for up to five years, as long as no material changes are made to the home and nothing on the form turns out to be inaccurate. If you replace your roof or install impact windows, get a new inspection so your insurer sees the upgrade.
When It Matters Most for Your Roof
A roof replacement is the best moment to improve your wind mitigation score. Ask the roofer about:
- Upgraded deck nailing that meets current code
- Secondary water resistance under the new covering
- Hurricane straps or clips where the roof meets the walls, if the walls are open during the work
Then get a new inspection once the work is finished. If you are planning a new roof, see the best-reviewed independent roofers in your city or the companies that offer roof replacement and roof inspection.
What to Ask the Inspector
- Which license do you hold, and are you qualified to sign form OIR-B1-1802?
- Will you use the current version of the form?
- Can you combine this with a four-point inspection if my insurer needs one?
- Will you send the report directly to me so I can forward it to my insurer?
Sources
- Wind Mitigation Resources, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
- Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form Changes, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, March 2026
- Section 627.711, Florida Statutes (2026): who may sign the form
- Section 627.0629, Florida Statutes (2026): required insurance discounts
- Inspection prices: published 2026 rates from Florida inspection companies, not an official source
Facts checked against these sources on October 9, 2026.
