Florida Wind Mitigation Inspections: Roof Requirements and Insurance Credits

A wind mitigation inspection records the construction features that help a home survive high winds. In Florida it's done on a standard state form — the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, often called Form 1802 — so every insurer reads the results the same way.

Most of what it scores is on or just under the roof. These are the features that matter most:

Florida law — Section 627.0629 — directs insurers to provide premium discounts, credits, or other rate differentials for construction features that reduce wind losses. A wind mitigation inspection is how you prove your home has those features, so the credit is documentation-driven: no form, no credit.

The largest credits usually come from strong roof-to-wall connections and secondary water resistance. Because the savings recur every year, the inspection often pays for itself quickly — but the exact amount depends on your home and your insurer.

Florida's building code includes what's commonly called the 25% rule: if more than 25% of a roof section is repaired or replaced within any 12-month period, that entire roof section generally must be brought up to current code. For an older roof, that can turn a partial repair into a full replacement.

A 2022 law (SB 4-D) added an exception. If the existing roof was built or replaced in compliance with the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, the repair may be limited to the damaged area instead of the whole roof. Local building officials interpret and apply these rules, so confirm with your county or city building department before assuming which one applies to your project.

Roof age has been a flashpoint in Florida's insurance market. Under a 2022 law (SB 4-D), an insurer generally cannot refuse to write or renew a policy solely because a roof is older, as long as a licensed inspector certifies the roof has at least five years of useful life remaining. For roofs past about 15 years, insurers may require an inspection before they decide on renewal.

The practical takeaway: an inspection can keep an older but sound roof insurable. If your roof is aging, getting it inspected — rather than waiting for a non-renewal notice — puts you in a stronger position.

Recent reforms shortened the time you have to act. For most property claims, you generally must give your insurer notice of a new or reopened claim within one year of the date of loss, and notice of a supplemental claim within 18 months. These windows were tightened in 2022 and 2023, and assignment-of-benefits rules changed at the same time.

Because the deadlines moved recently and depend on your policy's effective date, confirm the current rule with your insurer or the Florida Department of Financial Services before relying on an older figure. The safe habit is to report storm damage promptly.

Florida allows several licensed professionals to complete Form 1802 — typically a licensed home inspector, a general, building, or roofing contractor, a building-code inspector, an architect, or an engineer. A wind mitigation inspection is generally valid for up to five years, as long as the home's wind-resistant features don't change.

If you replace or upgrade your roof, it's worth a fresh inspection: a new code-compliant roof with a strong deck attachment and secondary water resistance often unlocks credits the old roof didn't qualify for.