How a Wind Mitigation Inspection Can Lower Your Florida Insurance

Florida law requires home insurers to offer discounts or credits for construction features that reduce wind damage. Your insurer will not give you credit for features it cannot verify. A wind mitigation inspection is how you prove them. Kelting Inspections & Services completes wind mitigation inspections across Southwest Florida on the state’s current form, with a photo of every item. Owner Wesley Bulifant is a Florida licensed home inspector (HI7956) and InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector, and we have been inspecting homes here since 2013.

Book your wind mitigation inspection online or call or text (941) 655-8888. Get an instant quote when you book online.

How the discount works

Under section 627.0629 of the Florida Statutes, insurers must offer premium discounts or credits for wind-resistant features. The proof is the state’s Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802. A qualified inspector completes the form, you send it to your insurance agent, and your insurer applies whatever credits your home qualifies for under its own approved rates.

That last part matters. Two homes with the same features can see different savings with different insurers, and some items on the form may not qualify for a discount with your company. Your insurer is required to send you a notice listing the discounts it offers, so that notice and your agent are the best guides to what your report is worth.

The features that can earn credits

The form looks at how well your home holds together in high wind and keeps water out if the roof covering is damaged.

  • Building code: whether the home was built under the 2001 Florida Building Code or later.
  • Roof covering: the type of covering and whether it meets code, based on permit or product approval information.
  • Roof deck attachment: how the roof sheathing is nailed to the trusses, checked from the attic.
  • Roof-to-wall attachment: toe nails, clips, single or double wraps, or structural connections that tie the roof to the walls.
  • Roof geometry: hip roofs generally hold up better in wind than gable roofs.
  • Secondary water resistance: a sealed underlayment that limits water entry if shingles or tiles blow off.
  • Opening protection: rated impact windows, doors and garage doors, or approved shutters on every opening.

What changed on the new form

Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation updated the form after a statewide study of wind-loss mitigation. The new version, OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26), must be used for every inspection done on or after April 1, 2026. It adds items such as FORTIFIED Home certificates, the home’s design wind speed region and roof slope, and it spells out the documentation needed to support each answer. Every report we write is on the current form.

When a new wind mitigation report pays off

A completed form is valid for up to five years, as long as the house has no material changes and the form has no errors. A new inspection is worth it when:

  • You replaced the roof. A new roof can change the covering, deck attachment and secondary water resistance answers. Ask your roofer for the permit and product approval numbers.
  • You added impact windows, doors or shutters. Opening protection only counts when every opening is covered, so keep the labels and paperwork.
  • You are buying a home. The seller’s report may be expired, may be on the old form, or may not reflect recent upgrades. A fresh report starts your policy with the right credits.
  • You have never had one. Many homes in Port Charlotte, North Port and Cape Coral have clips, straps or hip roofs that were never documented.
  • Your report is getting close to five years old. Book before it expires so your credits do not lapse at renewal.

How to get the most from your inspection

  • Find your permits. Roof replacement permits and product approval numbers help show the roof covering meets code. Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties all keep permit records.
  • Keep window and shutter paperwork. Impact-rated labels, receipts or product approvals help us verify opening protection. Leave shutters and panels on site where we can see them.
  • Clear the attic access. We check the roof deck nailing and roof-to-wall connections from the attic.
  • Tell us about FORTIFIED certificates. If your roof or home has a FORTIFIED designation, have the certificate ready.

Who can sign the form

Florida limits who can complete a wind mitigation form. Under section 627.711, home inspectors must complete hurricane mitigation training and pass a proficiency exam before they can sign one. Licensed contractors, engineers, architects and building code inspectors can also sign. Insurers can reject a form signed by someone who does not qualify.

Pair it with a 4-point or roof certification

Older homes often need a 4-point inspection to get a policy, and some insurers ask for a roof certification. We can do all three on one visit. Building new? A wind mitigation report on a newer home often documents several qualifying features, and we can complete it alongside a new construction inspection. See our Florida insurance inspections guide to see which ones you need.

Frequently asked questions

How much will a wind mitigation inspection save me?
It depends on your home’s features, your insurer and your policy. Your insurer’s discount notice and your agent can tell you which credits apply. The inspection makes sure you get credit for every feature your home actually has.

How long is a wind mitigation report good for?
Up to five years, as long as there are no material changes to the home and the form has no errors.

Is my old report still valid on the new form?
Reports on the previous form (Rev. 01/12) completed before April 1, 2026 can remain valid for up to five years if nothing has changed on the house. Check with your agent, since each insurer sets its own rules.

Do I need a wind mitigation inspection if I just replaced my roof?
Usually it is worth it. A new roof can change several answers on the form, and your old report will not show them.

Can you do a wind mitigation and 4-point on the same visit?
Yes. Most clients book both together, and you get your completed forms by email within 24 hours, ready to send to your agent.

Book your wind mitigation inspection

Pick a time online, or call or text (941) 655-8888. We serve Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, Englewood, Venice, Sarasota, Bradenton, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers and Naples. Learn more on our wind mitigation and 4-point inspection page. Get an instant quote when you book online.