A homeowner in Palmetto Bay spent more than $30,000 last year on impact windows and a new impact front door for her 1996 house. At renewal, her premium barely moved. When her agent pulled her file, the problem was obvious: the carrier still had the wind mitigation form from when she bought the house, which showed no opening protection, and the two-car garage door was still the original. A new inspection, plus a rated garage door, would earn the credit she had already paid for. The inspection that would have shown it costs less than a single monthly premium payment.
A wind mitigation inspection is one of the most valuable documents a Miami homeowner can have, because it is how a carrier learns how well the house is built to resist wind. Florida requires insurers to offer credits for the features it documents, and in Miami-Dade, where wind is the largest part of almost every homeowners premium, those credits are among the biggest discounts available. Knowing what the inspector checks helps you understand your credits and decide which upgrades are worth making.
The Form Behind Every Inspection
Every wind mitigation inspection in Florida is recorded on the state’s Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802. It must be completed by a qualified inspector, such as a licensed home inspector, building contractor, engineer or building code inspector, and once completed, it is generally accepted for up to five years as long as the house has not changed. The form was revised in 2026, and inspections done on or after April 1, 2026, must use the new version, which updates several categories, including how some roof-to-wall retrofits are documented. A form completed on the older version within five years before that date is generally still accepted if nothing about the house has changed.
What the Inspector Checks
The form covers seven features, and each one earns or loses credit on its own. The first is building code compliance. Miami-Dade and Broward sit in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so a home there gets credit for being built under the South Florida Building Code that followed Hurricane Andrew, generally with a permit applied for after September 1, 1994, while the rest of the state is measured against the 2001 Florida Building Code. That is why a 1996 house in Palmetto Bay and a 1990 house a few blocks away can start in very different places.
The roof covering is next. The inspector records the type of roof and whether it was installed with an approved product, which in Miami-Dade means a product approval or Notice of Acceptance, and the permit date matters. Roof deck attachment looks at how the plywood or other decking is fastened to the trusses, by nail size and spacing, and a reinforced concrete roof deck, common on some Miami homes, scores best. Roof-to-wall attachment looks at what holds the roof to the walls, from toe nails, which score worst, to clips, single wraps and double wraps, and it is often the single largest credit on the form.
Roof geometry records the shape of the roof. A hip roof, sloping down on all four sides, performs better in wind than a gable roof and earns a credit, while the flat and low-slope roofs common in Miami are evaluated differently. Secondary water resistance looks for a sealed layer under the roof covering that limits water intrusion if the covering is lost, which is often installed when a roof is replaced to current code. The last is opening protection: whether every window, door, skylight and garage door is protected with impact-rated products or approved shutters.
Opening Protection Is All or Nothing
This is where Miami homeowners most often lose money. The opening protection credit depends on every opening being protected, so impact windows across the front and nothing at the back earn little or nothing, and a house with impact windows everywhere but an unrated garage door can miss the credit entirely. The garage door is the most common gap and usually the cheapest to close. Older homes with jalousie windows earn nothing for those openings until they are replaced. If you are partway through upgrading, finishing the job is often worth more than the hardware costs.
What Happens During the Inspection
The inspection usually takes about an hour. The inspector looks at the roof from outside and, where it is safe, from the roof itself, and then goes into the attic to photograph the deck nailing and the roof-to-wall connections, because those cannot be judged from outside. Make sure the attic access is clear before the appointment. If the inspector cannot get into the attic, those categories are usually marked unknown, which earns no credit. Keep the permits and product approvals for your roof, windows and doors handy, because they support what the inspector records. You will receive the completed form with photos, and it should go to your agent and your carrier right away.
When to Get a New Inspection
Get a new inspection whenever you replace the roof, add impact windows, doors or shutters, add roof straps or other retrofits or replace a garage door, because the carrier only credits what the form shows. A form does not apply retroactively, so getting it done promptly after the work is worth more than waiting for renewal. If you are shopping your policy or have received a non-renewal or a Citizens takeout letter, a current form goes with the submission and can move the home to carriers that would not look at it otherwise, as our articles on Citizens versus private carriers and roof age and Florida insurance explain.
Where the Credits Show Up
Wind mitigation credits apply to the wind portion of the premium, not the whole policy, but in Miami-Dade the wind portion is most of the premium, so the credits move the total considerably. They appear on your declarations page or rating worksheet, and it is worth confirming at the next renewal that they were actually applied, as our article on how to read your Florida homeowners declarations page shows. Credits also interact with your other choices, so lowering the risk often does more for the premium than raising the hurricane deductible. Our articles on why upgrading your roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and water heater matters and how to save money on homeowners insurance in Florida cover the other improvements that help.
What Miami Homeowners Should Confirm
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Do you have a wind mitigation form on file, and is it on the current version?
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Have you replaced the roof or added impact windows, doors or shutters since it was done?
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Is every opening protected, including the garage door and any skylights?
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Is your attic accessible for the inspector?
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Do you have the permits and product approvals for your roof and openings?
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Are the credits actually showing on your declarations page?
Homeowners Insurance in Miami With Prestige Insurance Group
Prestige Insurance Group writes homeowners coverage across Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Kendall, Coral Gables and the rest of Miami-Dade, as well as in Orlando and across our nine-state footprint for clients who moved out of state and stayed with us. With access to over twenty homeowners carriers in Florida, we can show you what a current wind mitigation form does to your price across several carriers. Send us your declarations page and your most recent wind mitigation form, and see our South Florida homeowners insurance page for more. Call the office nearest you. Se habla español.
Miami: 305-969-8776 Orlando: 407-993-2331
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a wind mitigation inspection good for?
Generally up to five years, as long as the house has not changed. Inspections done on or after April 1, 2026, must use the revised state form.
Why didn’t my impact windows lower my premium?
Usually because the carrier has an old form on file, or because not every opening is protected. The opening protection credit generally requires every window, door, skylight and the garage door to be protected.
Does the inspector need to go into my attic?
Yes. The roof deck nailing and roof-to-wall connections can only be verified from the attic. If the inspector cannot get in, those categories usually earn no credit.
Do I need a new inspection after replacing my roof?
Yes. The carrier only credits what the current form shows, so a new roof, impact openings or roof straps earn nothing until a new inspection documents them.
General information only, not legal advice. Wind mitigation credits, inspection form requirements, inspector qualifications and carrier practices are set by Florida statute, rule and carrier filings and can change. Refer to your actual policy and inspection report for the terms that apply to your home.
