A wind mitigation inspection records your home's hurricane features on state form OIR-B1-1802, the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form. It looks mostly at your roof and attic. Your insurer uses the report to decide which wind discounts apply to your policy.
Why do insurers give wind mitigation discounts?
Florida law requires insurers' residential rate filings to include actuarially reasonable discounts, credits or other rate differentials for construction features that reduce windstorm loss (section 627.0629, Florida Statutes). Since October 1, 2023, insurers must also describe their hurricane mitigation discounts on their websites.
The discount applies to the wind portion of your premium. The wind mitigation form is how your insurer learns which of those features your home has.
What does the inspector check?
Insurers have used revision 04/26 of the form since April 1, 2026 (Citizens Property Insurance notice of the form changes). It asks nine questions. For questions 2 through 9, the inspector must back up each answer with a photo or a document.
| # | Category | What the inspector looks for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Building code | Whether the home was built to the 2001/2004 Florida Building Code or the 2007 code or later |
| 2 | Region | Location based on design wind speed |
| 3 | Roof slope | The slope covering most of the main roof, for homes with multiple slopes |
| 4 | Roof covering | Each roof covering's permit date or Florida Product Approval |
| 5 | Roof deck attachment | The weakest nailing of the roof sheathing to the trusses |
| 6 | Roof to wall attachment | The weakest connection, from toenails to clips, single wraps or double wraps |
| 7 | Roof geometry | Hip, flat or other roof shape |
| 8 | Secondary water resistance | Whether the roof deck is sealed under the underlayment |
| 9 | Opening protection | The weakest protection on windows, doors, skylights and garage doors |
The form also lets a FORTIFIED Home Roof, Silver or Gold certificate validate certain features.
Which features usually earn the biggest credits?
Every insurer prices them differently, so we will not quote percentages. In our experience, these are the features that tend to matter most.
- Roof deck attachment. The form grades sheathing from staples or 6d nails up to 8d nails at 6 inches in the field. Stronger nailing means better uplift resistance.
- Roof to wall attachment. Metal clips and straps hold the roof down better than toenails.
- Roof geometry. The form has a separate hip roof category for roofs with no other roof shapes greater than 10 percent of the total roof perimeter.
- Sealed roof deck. Taped deck seams, a fully adhered underlayment or certain double-layer underlayments can qualify. Standard underlayment alone does not.
- Opening protection. Rated impact windows or shutters on every opening.
Who can do a wind mitigation inspection?
The form must be signed by a qualified inspector. The list covers home inspectors who passed the hurricane mitigation training and proficiency exam, certified building code inspectors, contractors holding a general, building or residential license, engineers, architects, and anyone else the insurer accepts under s. 627.711(2), Florida Statutes.
The inspector is directly liable for the accuracy of the form. You also sign a homeowner section confirming the inspection happened.
How long is the form valid?
Up to five years, as long as the structure has not changed and nothing on the form is wrong. Replacing your roof is a change. Because a reroof usually moves the deck nailing and water barrier answers up a grade together, the fresh report tends to pay for itself.
How does a new roof change my wind mitigation results?
A reroof is the best chance to upgrade the features on this form. When we replace a roof, we re-nail the deck to current code, install a secondary water barrier and use approved roof coverings. See Florida Building Code roof requirements for what the code requires on every reroof.
Every roof Assure-U replaces gets a wind mitigation inspection that we set up and you do not pay for. The signed form can go straight to your insurer.
Is there help paying for upgrades?
Florida's My Safe Florida Home program offers free wind mitigation inspections and grants for eligible homeowners. Read our My Safe Florida Home program guide for current eligibility.
How do I get started?
If your last wind mitigation report is more than five years old, or you have replaced your roof since, it is time for a new one. If you are thinking about replacing your roof anyway, talk to us first. Book a free roof inspection or see our wind mitigation service, and check typical prices in our Orlando roof replacement cost guide.
Sources
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Form OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form
- Florida Statutes s. 627.0629, windstorm mitigation discounts in residential rate filings
- Citizens Property Insurance, Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form changes (March 2026)
- Florida Statutes s. 627.711, qualified inspectors for the uniform mitigation verification form
