The Florida wind mitigation form OIR-B1-1802 is a standardized inspection report that documents the wind-resistant features of your home so your insurer applies the premium discounts state law requires. An authorized inspector completes it after physically examining your roof, wall connections, and openings, and you submit the signed form to your insurance carrier. The current version is Rev. 04/26, which took effect April 1, 2026 after the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s required five-year reassessment.1Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Wind Mitigation Resources Every residential property insurer in Florida must build actuarially reasonable wind mitigation discounts into its rate filings, so a completed form is what unlocks the savings on your policy.2The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 627.0629 – Residential Property Insurance; Rate Filings
What the Inspection Covers
The form has nine sections, each tied to a feature that affects how your home performs in a hurricane. The inspector picks a predefined answer in each one, and those answers drive the credit you get.3Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. OIR-B1-1802 Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form
- Building code edition in effect when the permit was pulled. Homes permitted under the 2007 code or later earn the strongest credit; pre-2001 or unknown earns the least.
- Wind-speed region: the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward), Region 1 (140 mph and above), Region 2 (130–139 mph), or Region 3 (below 130 mph).
- Roof slope: 6:12 or steeper, or less than 6:12.
- Roof covering: material type and whether it carries a current Florida Building Code or Miami-Dade product approval. A roof permitted on or after March 1, 2002, or original to a home built in 2004 or later, qualifies for the top answer.
- Roof deck attachment: how the sheathing is fastened to the trusses. Category A (staples or 6d nails at 6-inch edge spacing) is the weakest; Category C (8d common nails at 6-inch field spacing) is the strongest standard pattern.
- Roof-to-wall connection: toenails (weakest), clips, single wraps, or double wraps (strongest).
- Roof geometry: a full hip roof earns a higher credit than one with gables or other non-hip features.
- Secondary water resistance: a self-adhering waterproof barrier under the primary covering that keeps water out if shingles or tiles blow off.
- Opening protection: whether all windows, doors, skylights, and the garage door have impact-rated glazing or approved shutters. Full protection on every opening and partial protection on some are credited differently.
Who Can Legally Sign the Form
Florida law restricts who can perform the inspection and sign the report. Under Section 627.711, the signer must hold an active license in one of these categories: a licensed home inspector who has completed at least three hours of approved hurricane mitigation training and passed a proficiency exam; a certified building code inspector; a general, building, or residential contractor; a professional engineer; a professional architect; or another individual or entity the insurer recognizes as qualified.4The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 627.711 – Notification of Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation
The person who signs must have personally examined the structure. The statute prohibits delegating the inspection to employees, with one narrow exception: licensed engineers and contractors may authorize a direct employee (not an independent contractor) with the necessary skill and experience to conduct it. If the signer is not in one of the authorized categories, or their license is not current, the carrier will reject the form.
Before the Inspector Arrives
A little preparation keeps the inspection on track and avoids a return visit at your expense.
Clear a path to the attic hatch and along the likely walking route in the attic. The inspector has to go up there to see the sheathing fasteners, the roof-to-wall connections, and the underside of the deck. Storage packed around the hatch is the single most common reason an inspection runs short.
Pull together any paperwork you have on the roof and openings. Building permits, contractor invoices listing materials, and product approval numbers for impact-rated windows all help the inspector verify features that are hard to see on a walkthrough. If your roof was replaced after 2002, the local building department likely has a permit record, and requesting it before the appointment is worth the effort.
Make every exterior opening accessible, and leave labels and etch marks on impact-rated glass in place. If you have accordion or panel shutters stored away, have them out so the inspector can confirm the mounting hardware is on the openings.
Inspections typically run $75 to $150 depending on the size of the home. If you also need a four-point inspection for your policy, many companies bundle the two at a combined rate.
Submitting the Form to Your Insurer
Once the inspector hands you the signed form with photos attached, send it to your agent or directly to your carrier. Most insurers accept uploads through their policyholder portal; some take email or mail. The carrier verifies the inspector’s credentials, checks the reported features against its underwriting guidelines, and applies the credits to the windstorm portion of your premium. You should receive a revised declarations page reflecting the new amount. If you submit mid-term, the carrier typically issues a pro-rated refund or credit for the remaining months.
Florida law requires insurers to accept the form when a qualified inspector signs it.4The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 627.711 – Notification of Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation Insurers must also notify every applicant and policyholder, at issuance and at each renewal, of the full range of available wind mitigation discounts, credits, and deductible reductions. If your carrier has not provided that information, you can request it.
Forms get rejected for a short list of reasons: the signer’s license is expired or outside the authorized categories, the photos are missing or don’t support the answers marked, or the form is an older version. With Rev. 04/26 now in effect, confirm your inspector is using that version before the appointment.1Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Wind Mitigation Resources
How Long the Form Stays Valid
A completed OIR-B1-1802 is good for five years, provided the structure hasn’t changed materially and no inaccuracies are found.1Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Wind Mitigation Resources If you reroof, replace windows, or add shutters inside that window, a fresh inspection can capture the upgrades and raise your credits. If the roof is damaged in a storm and repaired, your carrier may ask for a new inspection to confirm the original features are still in place.
Note the expiration date when you get the form. If it lapses, you lose the credits until a new inspection is submitted. Some carriers send a reminder; many don’t.
If Your Home Scores Poorly: My Safe Florida Home
An inspection that comes back with toenailed roof-to-wall connections, no opening protection, and an older deck attachment points to real upgrades that cost real money. The My Safe Florida Home program offers grants of up to $10,000 to help eligible homeowners pay for improvements like roof reinforcement, impact windows, and approved shutters.5My Safe Florida Home. MSFH New Year 2025-26
To qualify, the home must be your primary residence with a Florida homestead exemption, and it must be a site-built, owner-occupied single-family detached home or townhouse. Dwelling coverage (Coverage A) cannot exceed $700,000, though low-income homeowners are exempt from that cap. The initial construction permit must have been pulled before January 1, 2008. Before any grant work, the home has to go through an initial inspection run by the program, which identifies the recommended improvements.
Grants are prioritized by income. Low-income homeowners (household income at or below 80 percent of the county median) can receive up to $10,000 with no matching requirement. Moderate-income homeowners (above 80 percent but below 120 percent of the county median) qualify for matching grants in which the state contributes $2 for every $1 the homeowner invests. Applicants aged 60 and older get additional priority in both tiers. If funds remain after low- and moderate-income applicants are served, the program may open limited inspection slots to higher-income homeowners, though those households are not currently grant-eligible.5My Safe Florida Home. MSFH New Year 2025-26
After the funded work is finished, a new wind mitigation inspection captures the upgraded features, and that updated OIR-B1-1802 goes to your insurer for revised credits. The program requires you to share whatever discount information your carrier sends back after the credits are applied.