Wind Mitigation Inspections in Florida: How to Save Thousands on Your Home Insurance Premium
If you own a home in South Florida, your insurance bill probably went up again this year. Premiums in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and the Keys have climbed faster than almost anywhere else in the country. But there's a piece of paperwork most homeowners overlook that can knock 15% to 45% off your wind portion — and sometimes more. It's called a wind mitigation inspection, and on most South Florida policies, it's the single biggest discount available.
Here's exactly what it is, how it works, and how to make sure you're capturing every dollar of savings you're entitled to.
What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection — sometimes called a "wind mit" — is a focused evaluation of the construction features that help your home resist hurricane-force winds. A licensed inspector documents these features on a standardized state form (the OIR-B1-1802), which your insurer uses to calculate credits on the wind portion of your premium.
It's not a pass/fail test. It's a feature audit. The more storm-resistant features your home has, the bigger your discount.
Florida law requires insurers to recognize the discounts. They don't volunteer them — you have to prove the features exist with a current inspection.
What Inspectors Check on the OIR-B1-1802 Form
A wind mitigation inspection covers seven categories. Each one carries its own potential credit:
1. Building Code The year your home was built and the version of the Florida Building Code in effect at the time. Homes built after March 1, 2002 under the modern code automatically qualify for stronger credits.
2. Roof Covering The age and type of your roof — shingle, tile, metal, modified bitumen — and whether it meets current Florida Building Code wind standards. A new roof that meets code is often worth thousands in lifetime credits.
3. Roof Deck Attachment How the plywood or OSB sheathing is fastened to the trusses. Inspectors measure nail size, spacing, and pattern. 8d common nails at 6"/12" spacing is the modern standard and earns the strongest credit.
4. Roof-to-Wall Connection The hardware tying your roof structure to the walls. Toe nails are the weakest. Single wraps, double wraps, and structural connections earn progressively bigger credits — and double wraps are often the difference between a small discount and a big one.
5. Roof Geometry Hip roofs (sloped on all four sides) resist wind dramatically better than gable roofs. If your home has a hip roof and no gable end accounts for more than 10% of the total perimeter, you qualify for one of the best individual credits on the form.
6. Secondary Water Resistance (SWR) A self-adhering peel-and-stick membrane, foam barrier, or taped seams beneath the roof covering. Helps prevent water intrusion if shingles or tiles blow off in a storm.
7. Opening Protection How your windows, doors, garage door, and skylights are protected against flying debris. Options include impact-rated glass, accordion shutters, roll-downs, panels, and fabric. Full impact protection on every opening earns the maximum credit — a partial system may earn a smaller credit or none.
How Much Can You Actually Save?
The exact discount depends on your insurer, your zip code, and your home's features — but South Florida homeowners often see savings like these:
- $400 – $800 per year on a typical 1990s concrete-block home with a newer roof and shutters
- $1,200 – $2,500 per year on a newer home with hip roof, double wraps, impact windows, and current code
- $3,000+ per year on high-value coastal homes with full mitigation features
The inspection itself typically costs $75 – $150 in South Florida — meaning most homeowners recoup the cost in the first month of credits. The form is good for five years in most cases, so you collect savings every renewal cycle without re-inspecting.
When to Get a Wind Mitigation Inspection
There are five moments when a wind mit inspection pays off:
- You just bought a home. Many buyers don't realize their lender or insurer didn't pull credits automatically.
- You just replaced your roof. A new code-compliant roof can completely change your form.
- You added impact windows or shutters. Opening protection is one of the highest-value categories.
- Your form is older than five years. Most insurers won't honor an expired form.
- You shopped your insurance. A new carrier may rate the same form differently. Hand them a current one and ask.
If any of these apply, schedule the inspection before your next renewal — not after.
Common Mistakes That Cost Homeowners Money
Even homeowners who get an inspection often leave money on the table. Watch for these:
- Submitting an outdated form. Older forms may not reflect current credits or recent improvements.
- Skipping a re-inspection after a roof replacement. Your old form locks in the old roof's credits, which might be lower than you now qualify for.
- Assuming all shutters qualify. Only impact-rated opening protection meeting current standards earns the discount. Plywood doesn't count.
- Hiring an inspector who isn't licensed for wind mit. The form must be signed by an authorized inspector — not all general inspectors can complete it.
What South Florida's Climate Means for Wind Mit Credits
Homes from Key West to Palm Beach sit in some of the highest-risk wind zones in the country. That risk is exactly why insurers offer such aggressive credits — they want hardened homes on their books. The same climate that drives premiums up is the reason the discount is so meaningful when you qualify for it.
If you've upgraded your home since the last inspection — new roof, impact windows, accordion shutters, garage door reinforcement — you may be sitting on a credit you've never claimed.
How the Inspection Day Works
A wind mitigation inspection is non-invasive and usually takes 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the size of the home. Here's what happens:
- The inspector reviews building permits and any prior wind mit forms on file.
- The inspector enters the attic to verify roof deck nail patterns and roof-to-wall connections.
- The roof is examined from the ground or with drone imagery to confirm geometry, covering type, and condition.
- Each window, door, and garage door is checked for impact rating or shutter coverage.
- The completed OIR-B1-1802 form, with photos, is delivered the same day or next business day.
Submit the form to your insurer (or your agent) and ask for credits to be applied at your next renewal — or, in many cases, retroactively to your current term.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a wind mitigation inspection good for? Five years from the date of inspection in most cases. After that, you'll need a new one to keep your credits.
Can I do my own wind mitigation inspection? No. The OIR-B1-1802 must be completed and signed by a licensed home inspector, contractor, architect, or engineer authorized by the State of Florida.
Will a wind mit inspection raise my premium? No. The form is structured so that missing features result in no credit — never a surcharge. The worst case is your premium stays the same.
Does a wind mit inspection cover the same things as a four-point inspection? No. They're separate inspections with different forms and purposes. A four-point inspection covers roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC for general insurability. A wind mit covers storm-resistance features for premium discounts. Many homeowners need both.
What if I just bought my home — should I rely on the seller's old form? You can use it if it's still within five years and accurate, but it's worth getting a fresh one if any work has been done since. A current form in your name is also cleaner for your insurer's records.
Do I need this inspection if I have impact windows on every opening? Yes — and especially yes. Impact windows are one of the biggest individual credits on the form, but you have to document them on the OIR-B1-1802 to claim it.
The Bottom Line
In a market where Florida homeowners are seeing premium increases every year, a wind mitigation inspection is one of the very few tools that puts money back in your pocket. The cost is small, the savings are durable, and the discount belongs to you — not the insurance company — as long as you provide the documentation.
Already have hurricane-resistant features? You're paying for them. Make sure your insurer is paying you for them too.
Ready to schedule your wind mitigation inspection? Contact Infinity Inspector or call 305-613-8010. We serve homeowners throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and the Florida Keys, and we'll deliver your completed OIR-B1-1802 form fast — so you can start saving on your next renewal.
For more on Florida-specific inspection topics, see our guide to Florida home inspections and hurricane window protection alternatives.