Wind Mitigation Inspection: How Florida Insurance Discounts Work

What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?

A wind mitigation inspection evaluates the structural features of your home that help it withstand hurricane-force winds. Florida law requires insurance companies to offer discounts to homeowners whose properties have qualifying wind-resistant construction features — but carriers do not apply those discounts automatically. You have to document the features and submit the report.

That is the entire point of the inspection. It is not a safety assessment and it is not a condition report. It is evidence, gathered in a standard format, that your home already has features the carrier is obliged to credit.

The Features That Earn a Discount

A wind mitigation inspection is recorded on a standardised state form, and the inspector documents seven specific things:

Building code — the year the home was built, and which code edition applied.

Roof covering — the material, its installation date, and whether it meets current product-approval standards.

Roof deck attachment — how the plywood or sheathing is fastened to the trusses. Nail size and spacing matter here, and the difference between one fastening pattern and another can be significant.

Roof-to-wall attachment — whether the roof is held down by toe nails, clips, single wraps, or double wraps. This is very often the single largest factor in the discount.

Roof geometry — hip roofs, which slope on all four sides, perform better in high wind than gable roofs and are credited accordingly.

Secondary water resistance — an additional sealed barrier beneath the roof covering that limits water intrusion if the covering is lost.

Opening protection — impact-rated windows and doors, or shutters rated to protect them.

How Much Can You Actually Save?

This is where honest expectations matter. The savings vary enormously, because they depend on which features your specific home has, your carrier's rate structure, and what portion of your premium is wind coverage.

A home with strong roof-to-wall connections, a hip roof, and impact-rated openings can see a substantial reduction. A home with none of those features may see nothing at all. The inspection can only document what is already there — it cannot create a discount that the construction does not support.

The useful way to think about it: the inspection is a small, one-time cost against a discount that, if it applies, recurs every year for as long as you own the home. Even a modest annual reduction compounds. And a wind mitigation report is typically valid for five years, so a single inspection can cover several renewal cycles.

If your home has none of the qualifying features, you will know that too — and that is worth knowing before you spend money on upgrades hoping for a credit.

Which Homes Benefit Most

**Newer construction.** Homes built after Florida's post-Andrew code changes usually have stronger roof-to-wall connections and better deck attachment as standard. Many owners of newer homes are entitled to credits they have never claimed.

**Homes with a recently replaced roof.** A new roof frequently upgrades several rated categories at once — covering, deck attachment, and often secondary water resistance. If you have re-roofed and not had a new wind mitigation inspection, you may be leaving a larger discount unclaimed.

**Homes with hip roofs.** Roof geometry is credited on its own, and it is a feature you either have or do not.

**Homes with impact windows or shutters.** Opening protection is a distinct credit, and partial protection is generally treated differently from full protection.

What Happens During the Inspection

The inspector needs access to the attic, because roof-to-wall connections and deck attachment can only be verified by seeing them. They will photograph the connections, the sheathing and its fasteners, the roof covering, and every window and door opening. The photos are not decorative — the carrier's underwriter relies on them, and a report without adequate photo documentation can be rejected.

Expect roughly an hour for a typical home. Clear access to the attic hatch before the inspector arrives; a hatch blocked by storage is the most common reason a wind mitigation visit has to be rescheduled.

You will also want any documentation you have about the roof: the permit, the invoice, or the product approval sheets. Installation dates support the roof covering category and can affect the outcome.

Common Reasons a Report Doesn't Deliver

**The attic wasn't fully accessible,** so connections could not be verified and the inspector had to record the weakest assumption.

**No documentation for the roof covering,** leaving the installation date unsupported.

**The report was never submitted.** This one is surprisingly common. The inspection means nothing until your agent sends it to the carrier and the credit is applied to your policy. Follow up and confirm you see the discount on your declarations page.

Booking in Central Florida

Simplispect performs wind mitigation inspections across Orlando and Central Florida, with the completed report and photographs delivered within 24 hours so your agent can submit it without delay.

If your carrier has also asked for a 4-point inspection — common on older homes — both are usually done in the same visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a wind mitigation inspection?

A wind mitigation inspection evaluates a home's structural features that protect against wind damage.

How much can I save with a wind mitigation inspection?

Florida homeowners can save anywhere from 10% to 45% on their insurance premiums.

How long is a wind mitigation report valid?

In Florida, a wind mitigation report is typically valid for 5 years.