By Budget Roofing Service, Inc. Roofing Team ·
If you own a home in Florida, a wind mitigation inspection is one of the few things you can do that may lower the wind portion of your insurance premium, and your roof is the biggest part of that inspection. Florida law requires home insurers to offer discounts or credits for construction features that reduce windstorm damage, and most of those features sit on or under your roof. Here is what the inspector looks at, what you can change, and when it makes sense to plan roof work around it.
What a wind mitigation inspection is
A wind mitigation inspection documents how well your home is built to resist hurricane-force wind. The inspector records the findings on the state’s uniform mitigation verification form (currently form OIR-B1-1802, adopted under Florida Administrative Code Rule 69O-170.0155). You send that form to your insurance company, and your insurer uses it to decide which wind discounts or credits your home qualifies for.
Under Florida Statutes section 627.0629, residential property insurers must include discounts, credits or deductible reductions for features that reduce windstorm loss. The law names the categories directly: wind uplift prevention, roof strength, roof covering performance, roof-to-wall strength, opening protection, and window, door and skylight strength. Four of those six are about your roof.
The size of any discount depends on your insurer and your policy. We cannot tell you what yours will be, and nobody honest can promise one before the report is in your insurer’s hands.
The roof features that matter most
Roof covering
The inspector wants to know whether your roof covering (the shingles, tile or metal) was installed to a recognized building code standard. Inspectors typically check permit records for when the roof was installed. An older roof, or one without permit history, usually earns less credit than a newer, permitted roof built to the current Florida Building Code.
Roof deck attachment
This is how the plywood or decking under your roof is fastened to the trusses: the type of nails and how close together they are. Stronger attachment helps keep the deck on the house when wind pulls upward on the roof. It is hard to change on an existing roof, but it is part of every full roof replacement when the old covering comes off and the deck is exposed.
Roof-to-wall attachment
This is how the roof structure is tied to the walls. The form records whether the trusses are held by toe nails, clips, single wraps or double wraps. Straps and clips are designed to resist the roof lifting off in high wind.
Roof shape
A hip roof, which slopes down on all four sides, generally performs better in wind than a gable roof with flat vertical ends. You are not going to change the shape of your roof for a discount, but it helps to know why two similar houses on the same street can get different results.
Secondary water resistance
A secondary water barrier is a layer under the roof covering that helps keep water out if shingles or tiles are torn off in a storm. It is one of the upgrades the state’s My Safe Florida Home program lists for grant funding, alongside roof improvements, impact windows and doors, and garage door reinforcement.
Who can sign the form
Florida Statutes section 627.711 lists who insurers must accept a signed mitigation form from. That includes licensed home inspectors with hurricane mitigation training, certified building code inspectors, licensed general, building or residential contractors, professional engineers and architects. The person who signs must personally inspect the home, with limited exceptions in the law.
If you are not sure your inspector qualifies, ask before you book. It costs less to ask a question than to pay for a report your insurer will not accept.
Budget Roofing Service, Inc. performs wind mitigation inspections for homes in Winter Haven and across Polk County. See wind mitigation inspections in Winter Haven.
Free inspections and grants through My Safe Florida Home
The My Safe Florida Home program offers free wind mitigation inspections to eligible Florida homeowners, and grants of up to $10,000 for approved upgrades when the home qualifies after inspection. You apply through the program’s own portal, complete a short questionnaire, and are placed in an inspection group. Eligibility rules and funding availability change, so check mysafeflhome.com directly before you plan around a grant.
Repair or replace? How the roof fits the bigger picture
A wind mitigation report is a snapshot. If your roof is near the end of its life, the report will reflect that, and so will the credits. Here is how we suggest thinking about it:
- Your roof is newer and in good shape. An inspection may simply document credits you already qualify for. Nothing to do but get the report and send it in.
- Your roof has storm damage or active leaks. Fix the damage first. A roof repair protects the house now, and if the damage came from a storm, our insurance claim assistance page explains how we document what we find and work with you and your adjuster.
- Your roof is older or failing. A full replacement is the point where the deck attachment, the underlayment and the roof covering are all brought up to the current code at the same time. That is also when the permit and the paperwork an inspector looks for are created.
If you are weighing materials, our pages on shingle roofing, metal roofing and tile roofing cover how each holds up in Central Florida. For permits, product approvals and Florida’s 25% rule in plain English, see our 2026 Florida Roofing Guide.
Why late September is a good time to look
We are at the height of hurricane season. Most Polk County homeowners think about their roof the week a storm is named, when everyone else is calling too. Looking now, before the next one, gives you time to get an inspection, read the report and make a plan without pressure.
Frequently asked questions
Does a wind mitigation inspection lower my insurance?
It can. Florida law requires home insurers to offer discounts, credits or deductible reductions for qualifying wind-resistant features. Whether you save, and how much, depends on what the inspector finds and on your insurer’s approved rates.
Does a new roof help my wind mitigation report?
Usually, yes. A new roof installed under a permit to the current Florida Building Code tends to score better on roof covering, and a replacement is when deck attachment and the underlayment can be upgraded. The final result still depends on the rest of the house, such as roof-to-wall attachment and opening protection.
Who can do a wind mitigation inspection in Florida?
Insurers must accept a form signed by a licensed home inspector with hurricane mitigation training, a certified building code inspector, a licensed general, building or residential contractor, a professional engineer or a professional architect, under Florida Statutes section 627.711.
What is secondary water resistance?
It is a layer beneath the roof covering that helps stop water from entering the home if the shingles or tiles are blown off. It is one of the upgrades the My Safe Florida Home program lists for grant funding.
Can Budget Roofing Service help with my roof before an inspection?
Yes. We perform wind mitigation inspections, and we also inspect your roof for free, explain what we find in plain language, and give you a written plan for repair or replacement. No pressure. No guesswork.
Get a free roof inspection in Winter Haven and Polk County
Budget Roofing Service, Inc. is a family owned, state certified roofing contractor serving Winter Haven and Polk County since 1952. We perform wind mitigation inspections as well as free roof inspections. To book a wind mitigation inspection, or to find out where your roof stands before the next storm, call us at (863) 967-6675 or request your Free Roof Inspection and Estimate. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.
This article is general information for Florida homeowners, not insurance or legal advice. Ask your insurance agent how wind mitigation credits apply to your policy.
Talk to a local roofer
Budget Roofing Service, Inc. has served Winter Haven and Polk County since 1952. Free inspections and written estimates.
