Wind Mitigation Inspection in Florida: What It Costs, What You Get, And Why Insurers Ask For It

Your insurer wants a wind mitigation inspection. Or you heard it can lower your premium. But nobody explains what it actually is, what they check, and whether the $75-150 is worth it.

This is what you need to know.

What Is A Wind Mitigation Inspection?

A wind mitigation inspection is an examination of your home by a certified inspector. They look at seven specific things that determine how well your home can withstand a hurricane.

It takes 30-45 minutes. The inspector takes photos, checks your roof, windows, doors, and construction. Then you get a form — the OIR-B1-1802 — that you give to your insurer.

The 7 Things They Check

1. Year built — Homes built after 2002 meet stricter codes
2. Roof covering — Type of shingles or tiles, how they are attached
3. Roof-to-wall connection — Clips, straps, or just nails
4. Roof geometry — Hip roof scores better than gable roof
5. Secondary Water Resistance — Extra protection under the shingles
6. Opening protection (doors) — Hurricane-rated or not
7. Opening protection (windows) — Impact-resistant or with shutters

What Does It Cost?

Most inspectors in Miami-Dade charge around $100 for wind mitigation only.

How Much Do You Save On Your Premium?

This depends on your home and your insurer.

What we see in Miami-Dade:

• Homes with hurricane straps instead of clips: lower premiums
• Homes with hip roof: lower premiums than gable roof
• Homes with impact windows or shutters: lower premiums
• Homes built after 2002: often automatically lower premiums

We cannot give exact amounts because every insurer calculates differently. Some Miami-Dade homeowners report savings of $500-2000 per year. Others see little difference.

When Do You Need One?

• When getting a new policy — many insurers require it
• At renewal — some insurers ask for an update
• After roof replacement — your score may improve
• After installing shutters or impact windows

Where Do You Find An Inspector?

Look for:

• Licensed home inspectors with wind mitigation certification
• Roofing contractors who also do inspections
• Engineers (often more expensive but more detailed)

Check that they issue OIR-B1-1802 forms. That is the official Florida form that insurers accept.

What If You Score Poorly?

A poor score does not mean you cannot get insurance. It means your premium may be higher.

Improvements that may improve your score:

• Upgrade roof-to-wall connectors
• Install hurricane shutters
• Install impact windows
• Add secondary water resistance when replacing roof

Whether this investment is worth it depends on your specific situation and how much your premium would decrease.