If you own a home in Florida, you already know that insurance premiums can feel overwhelming—especially the wind and hurricane coverage portion. But here's something most Florida homeowners don't realize: you might be sitting on hundreds or even thousands of dollars in annual savings, and all it takes is a simple inspection to unlock them.
Wind mitigation discounts reward you for having a home that can stand up to Florida's notorious hurricanes and tropical storms. The stronger your roof, the more fortified your windows and doors, the less risk your insurance company takes on—and the more money you save. Let's break down exactly how these discounts work and how to get them.
What Is Wind Mitigation?
Wind mitigation refers to construction features and improvements that make your home more resistant to wind damage during hurricanes and severe storms. Think of it as armor for your house. These features include things like impact-resistant windows, reinforced roof-to-wall connections, hurricane shutters, and certain roof shapes that handle high winds better than others.
Back in 2005, Florida passed a law requiring every residential property insurance company to offer premium discounts for these wind-resistant features. Insurance companies must file their discount ranges with the state's Office of Insurance Regulation, which means these savings aren't optional perks—they're your legal right as a Florida homeowner.
The wind and hurricane portion of your homeowners premium typically represents 15-70% of your total bill, depending on where you live in the state. Coastal areas pay more, but that also means coastal homeowners have more to save. With the right mitigation features documented, you could reduce your wind premium by anywhere from 10% to an astounding 88%.
How the Wind Mitigation Inspection Works
To qualify for wind mitigation discounts, you need an official inspection report that documents your home's wind-resistant features. The inspection itself is straightforward and typically takes less than an hour. A certified inspector will examine your home and complete a standardized form that evaluates five critical areas.
First, they'll assess your roof covering—the type of shingles or tiles you have and how they're rated for wind resistance. Second, they'll check your roof deck attachment, which is how the plywood or OSB boards are fastened down. Third, they'll examine your roof-to-wall connection, looking for nails, clips, single wraps, or double wrap straps that anchor your roof to the structure during high winds.
Fourth, and often most valuable, is opening protection. This includes impact-resistant windows, hurricane shutters, reinforced garage doors, and protected skylights. Here's the catch: to get credit for opening protection, every single opening in your home must be protected. If you have impact windows on 99% of your house but one regular window in a bathroom, you typically won't qualify for this credit. Finally, they'll document whether you have secondary water resistance—a sealed roof deck that provides extra protection if shingles blow off.
The inspector must be a Florida-certified professional—this includes licensed general contractors, residential contractors, building contractors, professional engineers, architects, or certified building code inspectors who've completed an approved wind mitigation training course. Since February 2012, all reports must include photographs of each feature being documented, which protects both you and the insurance company from disputes.
The Real Numbers: Costs and Savings
A wind mitigation inspection will cost you between $75 and $150, with most homeowners paying around $100-125. The inspection is valid for five years, which means you're looking at roughly $20-30 per year to maintain this documentation.
Now for the good part: the savings. Florida homeowners typically save between 10% and 45% annually on the windstorm portion of their premium just by submitting a wind mitigation report. Most people recoup the inspection cost within the first year, and then it's pure savings for the next four years. Let's put real numbers to this. If your annual wind premium is $2,000 and you qualify for a 25% discount, that's $500 saved per year, or $2,500 over the five-year life of the report. Even with minimal wind mitigation features, you could potentially cut your hurricane and wind premium in half.
Roof shape alone can make a significant difference. Hip roofs—where all sides slope downward—are considered the gold standard for Florida's high winds because their aerodynamic design minimizes wind uplift. If you have a hip roof, you're already ahead of the game. Homes with gable roofs can still qualify for discounts, but hip roofs typically earn higher credits.
Opening protection delivers some of the biggest savings. Installing impact-resistant windows and doors, or adding approved hurricane shutters to all openings, often results in substantial premium reductions. Yes, these upgrades require investment, but between insurance savings and programs like My Safe Florida Home—which offers matching grants up to $10,000 for qualified homeowners—the math can work in your favor surprisingly quickly.
If Your Home Was Built After 2002
Hurricane Andrew changed everything about how Florida builds homes. After that catastrophic 1992 storm, the state completely overhauled its building codes. If your home was constructed after 2002, it was built to much stricter wind-resistance standards, which means you likely already have several wind mitigation features built in.
Some insurance companies, like Progressive, automatically apply certain default credits to newer homes. But here's what many homeowners miss: you might qualify for additional discounts beyond those defaults. A wind mitigation inspection can document enhanced features your builder included—better roof attachments, superior opening protection, or upgraded roof deck fastening—that could unlock even more savings.
Even if you're already getting some discounts, it's worth the $100 inspection to find out if you're leaving money on the table. Many homeowners discover they qualify for higher-tier credits once everything is properly documented and submitted to their insurer.
How to Get Started
Start by contacting a certified wind mitigation inspector. Many home inspection companies offer this as a standalone service, and you can often find inspectors through your local contractor licensing board or professional engineering associations. Ask about their certification, experience, and whether they include the required photographs in their reports.
Once you have your report, submit it to your insurance company immediately. Most insurers will apply the discounts to your next renewal, though some may adjust your current policy period. Keep a copy of the report for your records—you'll need it if you switch insurance companies, and you'll want it on hand when the five-year validity period expires.
If your inspection reveals you're missing certain wind mitigation features, don't panic. You'll still likely qualify for some discounts based on what you do have. Then you can make informed decisions about whether upgrades make financial sense. Adding hurricane shutters might cost several thousand dollars, but if they save you $400 annually on insurance and protect your home during the next storm, the return on investment becomes clear.
Check if you qualify for the My Safe Florida Home program, which offers free wind mitigation inspections and matching grants for wind-resistant improvements. The program has been revived to help more Florida homeowners protect their properties and reduce insurance costs. Even if you don't qualify for grants, the inspection alone opens the door to immediate insurance savings that last for years.
