canadafloridaThe reference manual

Chapter 01 · Topic 01.5 · Inspection & due diligence

Wind mitigation inspection in Florida — cut hurricane premium 30–60 %

The wind mitigation inspection documents the 7 hurricane protections of your FL home and can cut your hurricane insurance premium by 30–60 %. Form OIR-B1-1802, 5-year validity, strategy before or after closing.

Published 2026-04-28Last reviewed 2026-04-29 time ≈ 8 minAuthor CanadaFlorida Editorial Team

Direct answer · 60-second summary

The 60-second version

The wind mitigation inspection documents a FL property's hurricane protections. It is not mandatory, but can reduce your hurricane insurance premium by 30 to 60 % depending on validated features. On a $4,000 annual premium, savings can reach $2,400/year.

REFERENCE · ACRONYMS USED IN THIS GUIDE

Acronyms used in this guide

The OIR-B1-1802 form

The form is imposed by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and submitted to your insurer. It lists 7 features with rating categories and attached photos.

All FL insurers accept this form — no need to redo it across insurers as long as within its 5-year validity period.

The 7 rated features

  1. Building Code: home built per Florida Building Code 2002+ or Miami-Dade HVHZ. The 2002 code reinforced requirements post-Andrew. Major credit.
  2. Roof Covering: roof type and code-compliance at time of installation.
  3. Roof Deck Attachment: fastener type (nails, screws) and spacing.
  4. Roof to Wall Connection: toe-nail (standard nails), clips, single wraps, or double wraps (hurricane straps). Stronger connection = higher credit.
  5. Roof Geometry: hip roof (4-sided) resists wind better than gable (two-sided). Major credit for hip.
  6. Secondary Water Resistance: under-roof membrane preventing infiltration even if tiles torn off.
  7. Opening Protection: protection of openings (windows, doors, garage). Impact glass or tested hurricane shutters. Major credit.

How much to expect to save

Credits vary by insurer, but typical ranges:

FeatureTypical credit
FBC 2002+ construction10–25 %
Roof to Wall: double wraps10–15 %
Hip roof5–10 %
Secondary Water Resistance2–5 %
Opening Protection (impact glass)10–25 %
Cumulative possible30–60 %

For a 2018-built home with hip roof, double wraps, secondary water resistance, and impact glass, you can hit 50–60 % cumulative credit.

Choosing a licensed inspector

Inspection must be performed by:

  • A FL-licensed home inspector (DBPR).
  • A certified building code inspector.
  • A FL professional engineer (PE).
  • A FL architect.

Verify license on myfloridalicense.com before paying.

Strategy: before or after closing

Before closing

Include in the same visit as general + 4-point inspection. Typical combined cost: $500–$900 USD for all 3. Lets you calculate exact premium before binding and compare insurers on real basis.

After closing

If you bound a premium without wind mitigation credits, do the inspection shortly after closing and submit the report to insurer. Credit applies at your next renewal (or sometimes retroactively, by insurer).

Recommendation: do before closing to optimize initial premium and avoid binding moratorium during hurricane.

Editorial team

CanadaFlorida Editorial Team

Research drawn from primary public sources cited at the bottom of every guide: U.S. and Florida statutes, U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, official Florida county and state authorities, and Canadian provincial bodies where applicable.

Every figure, rate, threshold, and deadline in this guide is drawn from a verifiable primary source listed at the bottom of the page. The article is updated whenever the underlying rules change, with a fresh review date stamped at the top.

Sources and references

All sources were publicly accessible at the last review date. Figures and rules may change; verify the current version before any decision.

  1. Florida Statutes §627.711 — Wind mitigation, 5-year validity. flsenate.gov/§627.711
  2. Florida OIR Form OIR-B1-1802 — Wind Mitigation Inspection Form. floir.com
  3. Florida Building Code. floridabuilding.org
  4. Citizens Property Insurance — wind mitigation credits. citizensfla.com

Logical next step

Then verify the property has no open permits.

Read open permits search →

Disclaimer

This guide is for educational purpose only. Figures, rates, thresholds, and timelines are drawn from public sources at the date shown and may change.

For any concrete decision, consult a Florida-licensed Realtor®, a cross-border tax attorney, and a Canada–US CPA.