A Florida wind mitigation inspection documents specified construction features for an insurer's review of wind-related credits. It does not itself strengthen a house, guarantee a discount or replace a general roof-condition or 4-point insurance inspection.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation updated the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802, effective April 1, 2026. The updated form contains nine numbered questions. Guides describing only the historical seven categories should not be used as a complete checklist for the new form.
What the updated form asks
- Building code: the relevant code and original permit information.
- Region: location in relation to the form's wind-design regions, including HVHZ.
- Roof slope: the applicable slope category under the form's instructions.
- Roof covering: covering type and supporting permit, approval and installation information.
- Roof deck attachment: evidence of the qualifying attachment arrangement.
- Roof-to-wall attachment: the connection category, using the form's criteria.
- Roof geometry: classification of the roof shape.
- Sealed roof deck / secondary water resistance: the qualifying protection, if established.
- Opening protection: the relevant protection and documentation for openings.
This summary is not a scoring tool. The complete form defines categories, evidence and exceptions. It also states that some listed items may not qualify for a discount and that its definitions cannot certify a feature as offering hurricane protection.
Who may sign the inspection?
Florida Statutes §627.711 identifies authorized mitigation inspectors. The categories include appropriately trained licensed home inspectors, certified building code inspectors, specified general, building or residential contractors, professional engineers, architects and certain other persons or entities recognized by the insurer.
Do not assume a roofing license alone establishes eligibility to sign this form. Ask for the signer's qualification and confirm insurer acceptance. The statute also sets conditions for personal inspection and specified direct-employee arrangements; the responsible professional must apply the actual rule.
Prepare documents, not do-it-yourself upgrades
- Gather permits, installation invoices and available product-approval records.
- Locate existing reports and records of changes since the previous inspection.
- Ask what safe access arrangements the inspector needs.
- Keep pets and stored items out of agreed access routes where safe.
- Ask your agent how to submit the completed report and supporting documents.
Do not enlarge an attic opening, climb into a hazardous space, alter connectors or install straps simply to improve photographs or pursue a credit. Structural improvements require their own assessment, design and approvals. An inspection records features; it does not substitute for that work.
Validity and discounts have conditions
OIR states that the form is valid for up to five years provided there are no material changes to the structure or inaccuracies on the form. A roof replacement or other relevant change may mean the old information is no longer reliable. Ask the insurer and qualified inspector whether updated documentation or a new inspection is needed.
Do not assume that a new feature restarts five years of validity for the entire old report. Keep the inspection date, form version and records of alterations together. Ask the insurer how it handles prior reports and the updated form.
Credits depend on the carrier's applicable rating treatment and verified features; they are not a guaranteed percentage of the total premium. Obtain explanations from your agent or insurer rather than adding up example savings from unrelated policies.
Confirm the service before booking
Ask whether the appointment is a visual roofing assessment, a 4-point inspection or a mitigation inspection completed by an authorized signer. Confirm scope, supporting documents, fee and insurer requirements. These are not interchangeable services.
For a roofing-related inquiry, see insurance inspection services and confirm the qualified signatory and available scope before booking. Separate information about roof connections is available in the hurricane straps guide; it should not be treated as approval for a particular retrofit.
Frequently asked questions
Does the inspection make my home hurricane-resistant?
No. It documents features. Any physical improvements are separate work and need appropriate evaluation.
Does a mitigation inspection always have a fee?
Fees vary by provider or program. Confirm the quoted amount and what it covers. Public programs may have their own eligibility and availability; a program listing is not a promise that a roofing company will provide the inspection without charge.
Can I use an older report?
Ask the insurer. OIR describes conditional validity of up to five years, but changes, inaccuracies and the applicable submission requirements must be considered.
