What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection is an assessment that documents your home's hurricane-resistant construction features — the physical characteristics that reduce the risk of wind damage during a storm. This report is submitted to your insurance company and earns you insurance premium discounts for every qualifying feature your home has.
The inspection costs $75–$150. On a $6,000/year South Florida insurance policy, a 25% wind mitigation credit saves $1,500 per year — $15,000 over 10 years. Most South Florida buyers never have one done at closing, and they overpay on insurance for years as a result.
This guide explains exactly what the inspection covers, which features earn the biggest credits, and how a licensed GC identifies wind mitigation improvement opportunities that can save you even more.
What the Wind Mitigation Inspection Covers — The OIR-B1-1802 Form
Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation requires wind mitigation inspections to follow a standardized form — the OIR-B1-1802. It has eight sections, each documenting a specific hurricane-resistance feature:
- Building Code: Year the home was built relative to Florida Building Code adoption. Homes built after the 2001 Florida Building Code was fully implemented receive credits for code-compliant construction
- Roof Covering: The type of roof covering material. FBC-approved asphalt shingles, concrete tile, and metal roofing all qualify for credits
- Roof Deck Attachment: How the roof sheathing is fastened to the rafters. 8-penny nails at 6-inch spacing (8d @ 6") is the highest credit tier vs. 6-penny nails at wider spacing
- Roof-to-Wall Connection: This is the biggest premium difference. Three categories: Toe nails (lowest, no credit), clips (partial credit), single wraps (good credit), double wraps or structural anchors (maximum credit)
- Roof Geometry: Hip roof (slopes on all four sides) earns the maximum credit. Gable roofs (triangular ends) earn no credit for this section. Hip roofs can save 20%+ on premiums alone
- Secondary Water Resistance (SWR): A self-adhering underlayment applied to the roof deck before shingles/tiles are installed. Prevents water intrusion if roof covering is damaged in a storm
- Opening Protection: How your windows, doors, and garage door are protected. Impact-resistant glass and doors earn maximum credits. Accordion shutters or panel shutters earn good credits. No protection earns no credit
- Garage Door: Specifically whether the garage door is wind-rated or has a horizontal bracing kit installed
Which Features Earn the Biggest Insurance Credits
| Feature | Best Category | Typical Premium Reduction | Cost to Upgrade (If Not Present) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof-to-Wall Connections | Double wrap / structural | 10–20% | $3,000–$8,000 (retrofit) |
| Roof Geometry | Hip roof | 10–25% | Not practical to change |
| Opening Protection | Impact glass throughout | 15–30% | $8,000–$25,000 |
| Roof Deck Attachment | 8d @ 6" spacing | 5–10% | Addressed at re-roof |
| Secondary Water Resistance | Full SWR underlayment | 5–10% | Addressed at re-roof |
| Combined Maximum | All features qualifying | Up to 40–45% | Varies by property |
The best time to file is immediately after a new roof installation. A new roof can qualify for maximum roof deck attachment and SWR credits, potentially saving more in insurance than the cost difference between a standard re-roof and a code-maximum re-roof. As a GC, I advise every client who is negotiating a seller credit for roof replacement to specify the roofing specifications that maximize wind mitigation credits.
New construction buyers should also request a wind mitigation inspection at the final walkthrough — your new home may qualify for credits the builder never flagged.
Opening Protection — The Investment That Pays Back
Of all wind mitigation improvements, opening protection — impact windows, impact doors, and impact garage doors — delivers both the largest insurance premium reduction and the most practical hurricane safety improvement. The math in South Florida:
- Full impact window and door replacement: $8,000–$25,000 depending on home size
- Typical insurance premium reduction: 15–30% of annual premium
- Payback period on a $6,000/year policy: 5–12 years in pure insurance savings, not counting hurricane protection value and quality-of-life improvement (soundproofing, energy efficiency)
- Additional benefit: Impact windows typically eliminate the need to deploy shutters before storms, eliminating the physical labor and storage challenge of hurricane panels
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Take The Homebuyer Qualification Quiz ›How to Get a Wind Mitigation Inspection
A wind mitigation inspection must be performed by a licensed inspector — typically a home inspector, contractor, engineer, or architect. Cost is $75–$150. The report is valid for 5 years. The inspector produces the standardized OIR-B1-1802 form which you submit to your insurance company.
Request the inspection as part of your purchase process. Roland coordinates wind mitigation inspections for all buyer representation clients — and reviews the results with a GC's understanding of which features are present and which could be improved before or after closing.
