If your homeowners insurance renewal made you wince this year, you’re in good company. Florida premiums have climbed sharply over the past several years, and most people feel they have almost no control over the number. There is one lever, though, that too many homeowners leave untouched: the wind mitigation inspection. It usually takes under an hour, costs about as much as a nice dinner out, and can document credits your insurer won’t apply until you prove the features exist.
Here’s how the inspection works in 2026, what changed with the new state form, and where your roof fits into all of it.
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What a Wind Mitigation Inspection Actually Is
A wind mitigation inspection is a visual, photo-documented review of the construction features that help a house resist hurricane winds. The findings go on the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, known as OIR-B1-1802, which Florida insurers use to calculate wind mitigation credits. Section 627.0629 of the Florida Statutes requires residential property insurers to offer discounts for these features.
It isn’t a pass-or-fail home inspection, and it doesn’t decide whether you can get coverage. It simply records what’s there. If your home has strong features your insurer doesn’t know about, you may be paying more than you need to.
The Seven Areas the Inspector Evaluates
The form works through seven categories. Most of the savings potential sits in the roof and how it’s tied to the rest of the house.
- Building code: whether the home was permitted under the Florida Building Code, based on the permit date.
- Roof covering: whether the roofing material meets code, confirmed through permit records and product approval.
- Roof deck attachment: how the plywood decking is nailed to the trusses, including nail size and spacing.
- Roof-to-wall attachment: whether trusses are held with toenails, clips, single wraps, or double wraps.
- Roof geometry: hip roofs generally earn better credits than gable roofs.
- Secondary water resistance: a sealed layer that limits leaks if shingles or tiles blow off.
- Opening protection: impact-rated windows, doors, garage doors, or approved shutters.
What Changed With the April 2026 Form
Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation revised the 1802 form, and since April 1, 2026, inspectors have been required to use the updated version, Rev. 04/26. The update adds fields for the home’s design wind speed region and roof slope, calls for photo documentation supporting rated features, and introduces performance-based options for roof-to-wall connections, giving engineered retrofit connectors a clearer path to recognition.
Two practical takeaways. First, a report completed on the older form generally keeps counting until its validity period ends, though it’s worth confirming with your agent. Second, paperwork matters more than ever. Save your roof permit, product approval numbers, and any installation photos from your contractor, because some features, like deck nailing, are hidden once the roof is finished.
How Long the Report Lasts and Who Can Sign It
A completed 1802 form is valid for up to five years, provided no material changes are made to the home. Insurers aren’t required to remind you when it expires, so set a calendar reminder. If you replace your roof or add impact windows before then, get a new inspection right away so the upgrades show up on your policy.
Only qualified professionals under Section 627.711 can sign the form. That includes trained licensed home inspectors, certified building code inspectors, licensed general, building, and residential contractors, professional engineers, and architects. Private inspections typically run about $75 to $150. Eligible homeowners may also receive a free inspection through the state’s My Safe Florida Home program, which offers grants of up to $10,000 for certain hardening upgrades. Eligibility and funding change between cycles, so check mysafeflhome.com for current status.
How to Prepare for Your Wind Mitigation Inspection
A little homework before the inspector arrives can be the difference between a credit and a blank checkbox. Inspectors can only mark what they can see or verify, so gather the following:
- Your roof permit and the final inspection date, which you can often find on your county or city permit portal.
- Product approval numbers for your roofing material, impact windows, doors, garage door, and shutters.
- Installation photos or invoices showing deck nailing, underlayment, or hurricane straps.
- Clear access to the attic hatch, since the inspector needs to see truss connections and deck nails from inside.
If something can’t be verified, the form usually defaults to the less favorable option. Ten minutes of digging through old paperwork can protect credits you’ve already paid for. If records are missing, your contractor or local building department may be able to supply copies.
Why a Roof Replacement Is the Best Time to Improve Your Report
Several of the most valuable features on the form sit underneath your roofing material. Once shingles or tile are installed, nobody can easily change how the deck is nailed or add a secondary water barrier. During a reroof, the deck is fully exposed, and that’s a rare opportunity.
Florida’s reroofing requirements often call for enhanced deck fastening and a secondary water barrier on existing homes, which can improve two sections of the form at once. Where framing is accessible, it can also be a practical moment to evaluate roof-to-wall connections. The key is documentation. Ask your roofer to photograph nail spacing, underlayment, and any straps or clips before they’re covered, then schedule your wind mitigation inspection as soon as the final permit inspection passes.
Wind Mitigation Inspections Across Our Florida Service Areas
Wind Mitigation in Naples
Collier County homes permitted before the Florida Building Code took effect in 2002 often have toenailed trusses and older deck nailing. Pairing a reroof with a new inspection can make a real difference in how those homes are rated.
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Call Us: (833) 571-7663
R4 Roofing and Reconstruction – Trusted Naples Contractors
Address: 3822 Exchange Ave, Naples, FL 34104, United States
Wind Mitigation in Fort Myers
After Hurricane Ian, thousands of Lee County homes received new roofs. If yours was replaced and you never updated your inspection, your insurer may still be rating the old roof.
R4 Roofing and Reconstruction – Trusted Fort Myers Contractors
Address: 12522 Astor Pl, Fort Myers, FL 33913, United States
Wind Mitigation in Apollo Beach and Tampa Bay
If your Hillsborough County home has a gable roof, which doesn’t earn the geometry credit, the other sections carry more weight. Deck attachment, secondary water resistance, and opening protection become the places to focus.
R4 Roofing and Reconstruction Trusted Apollo Beach Contractors
Address: 6412 Triton Ln, Apollo Beach, FL 33572, United States
Wind Mitigation in West Palm Beach
Many Palm Beach County homes already have impact windows or shutters. Make sure they’re documented with product approval information, because openings that can’t be verified may not receive credit.
R4 Roofing and Reconstruction Trusted West Palm Beach Contractors
Address: 1601 N Congress Ave. West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Frequently Asked Questions About Wind Mitigation Inspections
How much can a wind mitigation inspection save in Florida?
Savings vary by insurer, home, and features. Homes with a hip roof, strong roof-to-wall connections, and full opening protection tend to see the largest credits, sometimes hundreds of dollars or more each year.
How long is a wind mitigation inspection good for?
Up to five years from the inspection date, as long as no material changes are made to the structure.
How much does a wind mitigation inspection cost?
Typically about $75 to $150 from a private inspector. Eligible homeowners may qualify for a free inspection through My Safe Florida Home.
Who can perform a wind mitigation inspection in Florida?
Qualified inspectors listed in Section 627.711, including trained licensed home inspectors, building code inspectors, licensed general, building, and residential contractors, engineers, and architects.
What is the OIR-B1-1802 form?
It is Florida’s Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, the standard document insurers use to apply wind mitigation discounts. The current version is Rev. 04/26.
Can a wind mitigation inspection raise my premium?
The inspection itself doesn’t carry penalties. However, if the report shows weaker features than your insurer previously assumed, credits could change at renewal, so review results with your agent.
Should I get a new inspection after a roof replacement?
Yes. A new roof can change several sections of the form, including roof covering, deck attachment, and secondary water resistance.
What is a secondary water barrier?
It is a sealed layer, such as self-adhered underlayment, installed over the roof deck to limit water intrusion if the roof covering is damaged in a storm.
Schedule a Roof Evaluation and Wind Mitigation Inspection
R4 Roofing and Reconstruction is a state-certified roofing contractor (CCC1335711) and certified building contractor (CBC1267010) with offices in Naples, Fort Myers, Apollo Beach, and West Palm Beach. We can inspect your roof, complete the documentation your insurer needs, and show you which upgrades could improve your report. Call (833) 571-7663 or visit r4florida.com to get started.
