On the Gulf County coast, the wind (hurricane) portion of a homeowners policy is often one of the largest parts of the premium. Florida law (Fla. Stat. 627.0629) requires residential property insurers to include discounts, credits or other rate differentials for construction features that reduce windstorm damage. A wind mitigation inspection is how you document those features for your insurance company.
At Insuring the Coast, we regularly help Port St. Joe homeowners get their inspection reports to their carriers. Depending on your home and your carrier, a current inspection may lower the wind portion of your premium. Here’s how it works and what the inspector looks for.
WindMark Beach, Port St. Joe.
What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
It’s typically a short visit where a qualified inspector documents your home’s wind-resistant construction on the state’s Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802. Your insurance company uses the form to determine which mitigation credits apply to the wind portion of your premium.
Florida updated the form, and per the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s wind mitigation resources, inspections performed on or after April 1, 2026, must use the new version, OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26). The new form adds items such as the home’s design wind-speed region and roof slope, requires at least one photo or document for each feature claimed, and allows a FORTIFIED Home certificate to document certain features. According to the Florida Department of Financial Services, inspections done before April 1, 2026, could use the older form, and a completed form is valid for up to five years as long as no material changes have been made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found. Whether your carrier accepts an older-form report is up to the carrier, so send it to us and we’ll check.
Who Can Do the Inspection?
Florida law (Fla. Stat. 627.711) lists who may sign the form. That includes certain licensed home inspectors who have completed hurricane mitigation training, building code inspectors, licensed general, building or residential contractors, professional engineers and architects, and hurricane mitigation inspectors certified through the state’s program.
What the Inspector Checks
Building Code and Roof Covering
The inspector notes which Florida Building Code was in effect when the home was permitted and whether the roof covering meets the Florida Building Code. Homes permitted under the 2001 Florida Building Code or later, and roofs replaced under a permit to the newer code, may qualify for more favorable credits.
Roof Shape (Roof Geometry)
A hip roof slopes down on all four sides and generally performs better in high wind than a gable roof with flat, triangular ends. Depending on the carrier, a hip roof may earn one of the larger credits. The new form also records roof slope.
A hip roof slopes down on all four sides, like this older home in Carrabelle on Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
Photo: The Bushranger / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized.
Roof-Deck Attachment
This is how the plywood or OSB sheathing is fastened to the roof trusses. Larger nails spaced closer together help hold the deck down when wind tries to lift it. The inspector checks nail size and spacing, often from the attic.
Roof-to-Wall Attachment
This is how the roof structure is tied to the walls. From weakest to strongest, the common categories are:
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Toe nails: nails driven at an angle through the truss into the top plate.
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Clips: metal connectors on one side of the truss.
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Single wraps: metal straps that wrap over the truss on one side.
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Double wraps: straps on both sides of the truss.
Many older homes have toe nails or clips. Stronger connections can improve a home’s wind resistance and, depending on your carrier, may change the credit you receive.
Metal hurricane straps wrapped over roof framing. Straps like these are one of the roof-to-wall connections an inspector looks for.
Photo: Bill Bradley / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5.
Secondary Water Resistance (SWR)
SWR is a layer under the roof covering, like self-adhered membrane tape over the deck seams or a full peel-and-stick underlayment. If shingles blow off, it helps keep rain from pouring through the deck. It’s usually installed when the roof is replaced, so ask your roofer about it if a new roof is coming. Programs like IBHS’s FORTIFIED Roof standard go further and describe a full set of roof upgrades designed to resist high winds.
Opening Protection
This covers windows, doors, skylights and garage doors. The highest opening-protection category generally requires every glazed opening to have protection rated for large-missile impact, such as impact-rated windows or approved hurricane shutters. Garage doors count too. One unprotected opening can drop a home to a lower category. The new form also accounts for damaged openings.
How Much Does It Cost?
Inspection prices may vary by inspector and home. In Gulf County, a wind mitigation inspection on a typical single-family home usually runs about $75 to $150, and larger homes or hard-to-reach attics may cost more. That’s a general range, not a quote. Whether the credit outweighs the cost depends on your home and carrier.
Need an inspector? Insuring the Coast Insurance Agency recommends Trevor Seay of Seay Level Home Inspections, LLC for wind mitigation inspections in Port St. Joe and along the Forgotten Coast. You can reach Seay Level at 850-340-0816 or . Seay Level is an independent business, not part of Insuring the Coast or any state program. You can use any qualified inspector, and whether a report is accepted is up to your carrier.
Eligible homeowners may be able to get a no-cost wind mitigation inspection (when funding is available) through the state’s My Safe Florida Home program, which may also lead to grant funding for approved upgrades such as roof improvements, impact windows and doors, or garage door reinforcement. The program has eligibility requirements, such as a homestead exemption, and funding depends on the Legislature, so check the program’s website for current availability.
How Long Is It Good For?
A completed OIR-B1-1802 is valid for up to five years, as long as no material changes are made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found on the form. If you replace the roof or add impact windows, consider getting a new inspection so your report reflects the upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a wind mitigation inspection always lower my premium?
No. Results depend on your home’s features, your carrier’s filed rating plan and what’s already on file. Homes with features like a hip roof, stronger roof-to-wall connections or full opening protection may see larger credits. Even if the credit is small, the report shows which upgrades could matter for your home.
I just bought a home. Can I use the seller’s inspection?
Often, if it’s within the five-year window and nothing material has changed, but acceptance is up to your carrier. Send it to us and we’ll check. If it’s missing photos or documented features, a new inspection may identify additional credits.
What upgrades give the best return?
It depends on your home and carrier. Roof-to-wall straps, secondary water resistance at reroof time and full opening protection are common upgrades. We can request quotes with and without a feature so you can compare before you spend money. Always use a licensed contractor and check permit requirements.
Does Citizens accept wind mitigation inspections?
Yes. Citizens Property Insurance and private Florida carriers generally apply wind mitigation credits based on the OIR-B1-1802, under each insurer’s filed rates.
Get Your Credits Reviewed
If you have a wind mitigation inspection, or you’re about to get one, send it our way. Insuring the Coast Insurance Agency is an independent agency at 402 Reid Ave, Ste B in Port St. Joe, serving homeowners from Destin to St. George Island. We’ll review whether available credits are reflected on your policy and can shop your homeowners insurance with multiple carriers, subject to availability and underwriting. While you’re at it, read our guide to wind coverage and hurricane deductibles. Wind is only half of the hurricane picture, since homeowners policies generally exclude flood. Read our guide to flood insurance in Port St. Joe and Gulf County.
Call or text (850) 203-3643 or email your inspection or quote request to . You can also request a quote online or visit our Port St. Joe office.
Disclaimer: This article is provided by Insuring the Coast Insurance Agency for general informational purposes only. It is not an insurance contract, a guarantee of coverage, rates or discounts, or legal advice. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued, as well as underwriting approval and availability. Mitigation credits and premiums vary by carrier, property and filed rating plan. Inspection costs shown are general market ranges, not quotes. State program rules can change, so please contact a licensed insurance agent to review your specific situation.
Sources checked Oct 27, 2026: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation wind mitigation resources and form OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26), Florida Department of Financial Services mitigation forms page, Fla. Stat. 627.0629 and 627.711, My Safe Florida Home program, IBHS FORTIFIED.
