In Florida, a wind mitigation inspection is one of the few things that can make your homeowners insurance go down instead of up. It documents the features of your home that resist hurricane wind — and under Florida law, your insurer has to give you credit for every one that qualifies. The findings go on the state's OIR-B1-1802 form, and your carrier uses it to reduce the windstorm portion of your premium, which across Southwest Florida is often the largest part of the bill.
How a wind mitigation inspection lowers your insurance
Two Florida statutes do the work. Section 627.0629 requires every residential property insurer in the state to offer discounts for verified wind-resistant features, and Section 627.711 sets the standardized form they all have to accept. These aren't courtesy discounts you negotiate — once a qualifying feature is documented, the credit is mandatory. It applies to the windstorm portion of your premium, which in Florida commonly runs 30 to 70 percent of the total bill, so the savings sit on the largest slice of what you pay. A wind mitigation report is valid for five years and carries over if you switch carriers, so one inspection can keep lowering your premium year after year.
The seven things we document
Florida's form covers seven features, and most of the savings come from the roof:
- Building code / year built — homes built to the 2002 Florida Building Code or later resist wind better and earn credit for it.
- Roof covering — the material and when it was installed, checked against code.
- Roof deck attachment — how the decking is fastened, down to nail type and spacing.
- Roof-to-wall connection — toe nails, clips, single wraps, or double wraps. One of the biggest credits on the form, and the difference between a clip and a wrap is real money.
- Roof shape — a hip roof, sloped on all four sides, earns a larger credit than a gable.
- Secondary water resistance — a sealed roof deck that keeps water out if the covering is lost in a storm.
- Opening protection — impact-rated windows, doors, and shutters. This is the one feature you can add after the fact to earn a bigger discount.
Why it matters that a licensed Roofer and General Contractor signs your form
Here's what most homeowners don't know: Florida law (Section 627.711) only lets four kinds of people sign the OIR-B1-1802 — a licensed home inspector, a general, building, or residential contractor, a professional engineer, or a licensed architect. A form signed by anyone outside that list is invalid, and your insurer will reject it.
Patriot's owner holds a Florida General Contractor license and a Roofer license. Since most of your wind mitigation credit is decided up on the roof and inside the attic — deck nailing, roof-to-wall connectors, roof shape, secondary water resistance — having those features read and signed off by someone licensed to build and roof in Florida means the form captures every credit your home actually qualifies for. Miss a connector type or misread a roof shape, and you can leave hundreds of dollars a year on the table for five years.
We use the current 2026 form
Florida updated the wind mitigation form for the first time in over a decade. The revised OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) became mandatory on April 1, 2026, and Patriot uses the current version. The update added performance-based options for roof-to-wall connections — which matters if you're reroofing, because certain engineered retrofit connectors can now qualify for credit even when they don't physically wrap the truss. If you're planning a new roof, it's worth a conversation before the work starts, so it's built to earn every credit on the form. As a licensed Roofer, that's a conversation Patriot can actually have with you.
Who needs a wind mitigation inspection
You'll want one if you're buying a home, if you've never had the inspection done, if your last report is more than five years old, or if you've recently replaced your roof, windows, or doors. Patriot schedules wind mitigation inspections across Southwest Florida on a same or next-day basis in most cases, and you can bundle it with a full home inspection or a 4-point inspection on the same visit — saving you a second trip fee. The inspection itself usually takes under an hour.
Book a wind mitigation inspection signed by a licensed General Contractor and Roofer — and stop overpaying the windstorm portion of your premium.
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If you've been searching for a wind mitigation inspection near you, Patriot covers Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and the communities around them:
Wind mitigation inspection FAQ
How much does a wind mitigation inspection cost in Florida?
A private wind mitigation inspection in Florida generally runs in the range of $75 to $150 on its own, and costs less when you bundle it with a home or 4-point inspection on the same visit. Many homeowners see the credit pay back the cost within the first year. Eligible homeowners can also get a no-cost inspection through the state's My Safe Florida Home program — if you don't qualify, or you need it done quickly for a closing, Patriot can handle it now.
How much will I actually save on my insurance?
It depends on your carrier, your home's features, and how large the windstorm portion of your premium is. The credit applies only to that windstorm portion, not your entire premium, and the features that move it most are roof shape, roof-to-wall connection, and opening protection. Because the credits are set by the state and mandatory once documented, a home with strong features can carry a very different premium than an identical-looking home next door that has never had the inspection done.
How long is a wind mitigation inspection good for?
Five years from the inspection date, as long as you don't make structural changes to the home. After five years your insurer can drop the credits, and they aren't required to remind you — so it's worth setting a calendar note.
Does the inspector need to get into the attic?
Usually, yes. Roof deck nailing and roof-to-wall connectors are verified from inside the attic, and the form requires a photo of each documented feature. Where an attic can't be safely accessed, we document what's visible and note the limitation.
Can I get wind mitigation and a home inspection together?
Yes. Wind mitigation pairs naturally with a full home inspection or a 4-point inspection, and doing them on one visit saves you a trip fee and time. It's a common combination for buyers and for owners updating their insurance.