Wind Mitigation Report Florida: How Brevard Homeowners Save $400–$1,200 Per Year on Insurance
If you own a home in Melbourne, Viera, Suntree, or anywhere across Brevard County and you have never had a wind mitigation inspection done, there is a very real chance you are overpaying on your homeowners insurance right now. Florida law requires your insurance company to give you a premium discount for every verified wind-resistant feature on your home. The document that unlocks those discounts is called a wind mitigation report, and in 2026, the rules just changed.
This guide explains exactly what a wind mitigation report is, what the new 2026 form means for your credits, how much Brevard homeowners are actually saving, and how Wescon Construction includes free wind mitigation report coordination with every full roof replacement we complete.
What Is a Wind Mitigation Report?
A wind mitigation report (officially the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802) is a standardized document completed by a licensed inspector that documents the wind-resistant features of your home. Once completed, you submit it to your insurance company. Florida Statute §627.0629 legally requires your insurer to apply premium discounts based on what the report documents.
The inspection itself is not complicated. A licensed inspector spends 30 to 60 minutes at your home, examines specific structural features, photographs them, and completes the form. That single document can then reduce your windstorm premium for the next five years: every year, automatically, without doing anything else.
The bottom line: A wind mitigation report is the only document that legally requires your insurance company to lower your premium. If you do not have one on file, you are leaving money on the table every single year.
The 2026 OIR-B1-1802 Form Update: What Changed
This is the most important wind mitigation news in Florida in 2026: the state updated the inspection form effective April 1, 2026.
The new version, OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26), replaces the form that had been in use since 2012. All wind mitigation inspections completed on or after April 1, 2026 must use the new form. Insurance companies began applying credits under the new form in July 2026.
What changed on the new 2026 form:
- More detailed roof documentation: inspectors must now record permit dates, product approval numbers, and installation years. Missing documentation must be flagged
- New wind zone classification: based on updated ASCE 7-22 wind speed standards; your home’s location now determines the regional wind designation on the report
- New roof slope documentation: homes with multiple slopes must now be calculated to determine if 2/3 of the roof qualifies for the hip roof credit
- Stricter roof deck attachment requirements: expanded categories include specific nail spacing, uplift values, and system types
- FORTIFIED Home™ designation added: homes certified FORTIFIED Roof, Silver, or Gold now have a dedicated section on the form with additional credits
- Stronger photo and document requirements: if something is checked, it must be supported by clear photos and a document trail. Unverified credits will be denied
What this means for you as a Brevard homeowner:
If your existing wind mitigation report was completed before April 1, 2026 using the old 2012 form, it is still valid; Citizens Insurance and most carriers will continue to honor it as long as it was completed within five years prior to April 1, 2026. However, if you recently replaced your roof or made upgrades, a new inspection on the updated form will almost certainly unlock better credits than your existing report. This is especially true if your roof was replaced with peel-and-stick underlayment, that qualifies for the Secondary Water Resistance credit, which requires proper documentation.
The 6 Things Inspectors Check, and What Each One Is Worth
Florida’s wind mitigation inspection evaluates six specific features of your home. Each one earns a separate discount. The discounts stack, meaning a home that qualifies for all six categories can see dramatic reductions on the windstorm portion of its premium.
| Feature Inspected | What Qualifies for Maximum Credit | Typical Wind Premium Discount |
| 1. Roof Covering | FBC-compliant materials installed to 2001 Florida Building Code or later; metal roofing and impact-rated shingles earn additional credit | 5–15% |
| 2. Roof Deck Attachment | 8d nails at 6-inch spacing (highest rating: “A”); the attic must be accessible for the inspector to verify this | 25–35% |
| 3. Roof-to-Wall Connection | Structural clips, double wraps, or anchors; standard in post-2002 construction; can be retrofitted | 20–40% |
| 4. Roof Geometry (Shape) | Hip roofs (sloped on all 4 sides) earn maximum credit; gable ends reduce credits | 20–30% |
| 5. Secondary Water Resistance (SWR) | Self-adhering peel-and-stick underlayment applied to roof deck before shingles | 5–10% |
| 6. Opening Protection | All windows, doors, sliding glass doors, and garage door rated impact-resistant or with approved shutters | 30–45% |
Sources: Florida Statute §627.0629; OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26); ARA Residential Wind-Loss Mitigation Study (2024)
Wescon Note: When we scope your roof replacement, ask about upgrading to peel-and-stick underlayment; it’s the layer that qualifies your home for the Secondary Water Resistance (SWR) credit on your wind mitigation report. When it’s part of your job, we provide full documentation: permits, product approval numbers, and the installation records your inspector needs under the new 2026 form requirements.
How Much Can You Save? Real Numbers for Brevard County
Brevard County homeowners who qualify for wind mitigation credits typically save between $400 and $1,200 per year on their homeowners insurance premiums, which is exactly what we put on our postcard mailer because it is the real number we see for our customers.
Here is how that math works:
Florida homeowners in coastal counties like Brevard often pay $3,000 to $6,000 per year for homeowners insurance. The windstorm portion of that premium, the part wind mitigation credits apply to, can represent 40% to 70% of your total premium depending on your proximity to the coast.
| Annual Premium | Wind Portion (50%) | 20% Discount | 35% Discount |
| $3,000 | $1,500 | $300/year saved | $525/year saved |
| $4,500 | $2,250 | $450/year saved | $788/year saved |
| $6,000 | $3,000 | $600/year saved | $1,050/year saved |
Homes with hip roofs, secondary water resistance, post-2002 roof-to-wall connections, and FBC-compliant roof coverings consistently land in the 25–40% discount range. Homes that also have impact windows or rated shutters can see the single largest individual credit: up to 30–45% on the windstorm portion from opening protection alone.
The inspection costs $75 to $150 and is valid for five years. The payback period is almost always under three months.
How Long Is a Wind Mitigation Report Good For in Florida?
A wind mitigation report in Florida is valid for five years from the date of inspection. After five years, if you change insurance carriers or renew with your current carrier, you will need a new inspection to maintain your credits.
There are two important exceptions that many homeowners miss:
- If you replace your roof, you should get a new inspection, even if your existing report is less than five years old. A new roof typically qualifies for better credits, especially if the new installation includes peel-and-stick underlayment (SWR credit), new hurricane straps, and FBC-compliant materials. Waiting out an old report after a new roof costs you credits every single year.
- The 2026 form transition: inspections completed before April 1, 2026 on the old 2012 form are still valid at most carriers if they are within the five-year window. But if your credits were based on the old form and you have made upgrades since, a new inspection on the 2026 form will almost certainly produce better results.
How to Get a Wind Mitigation Report in Florida
Getting a wind mitigation report in Florida is a four-step process:
- Hire a licensed wind mitigation inspector. In Florida, only certain licensed professionals can complete a wind mitigation inspection: home inspectors with hurricane mitigation training, building code inspectors, general/building/residential contractors, engineers, and architects. Ask for the inspector’s license number before scheduling.
- The inspector visits your home. The inspection takes 30 to 60 minutes. The most important step you can take before the appointment: make sure the attic is accessible. Roof deck attachment, one of the highest-weighted credits on the form, can only be verified from inside the attic.
- You receive the completed OIR-B1-1802 form. Under the new 2026 requirements, the inspector must include photo documentation and permit records for every credit claimed.
- Submit the report to your insurance company. Your insurer is legally required to apply the credits. Keep copies of the report and all supporting documentation; you will need them at renewal and when you change carriers.
If you recently had a roof replaced by Wescon: We provide all the documentation your inspector needs: product approval numbers, permit records, and installation records for any upgrades you selected, including peel-and-stick underlayment. Many customers find their new inspection goes faster and yields better results because we keep detailed files on every job.
The My Safe Florida Home Program: Up to $10,000 for Hurricane Upgrades
The My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) Program is funded by the Florida Legislature and administered by the Department of Financial Services, and it offers Brevard County homeowners two things: a free wind mitigation inspection, and matching grants of up to $10,000 for hurricane hardening upgrades, the same upgrades that improve your wind mitigation credits and lower your insurance premium even further.
Funding is appropriated by the Legislature in annual cycles, and application windows open and close as money is awarded; check mysafeflhome.com for current status, or ask us when we’re out for your inspection. The Legislature renewed funding for 2026–27 in the state budget signed this June.
Step one is free, and almost every homeowner qualifies. The program’s free wind mitigation inspection is open to nearly any owner-occupied, site-built single-family home or townhouse with a homestead exemption: no home-age cutoff, no income limit, no insured-value cap. Apply at mysafeflhome.com. You cannot apply for a grant until you receive your inspection report, so the inspection is the first step no matter what. Also all applicants must now provide proof of homeowners insurance when applying.
The grant itself has narrower eligibility. To qualify for MSFH grant funds, homeowners must meet all of the following:
- Home built before January 1, 2008
- Single-family detached home or townhouse (not a condo or mobile home)
- Owner-occupied primary residence with an active homestead exemption
- Insured value of $700,000 or less [VERIFY at publish: confirm the $700,000 cap against the current inspector-facing MSFH FAQ; one outlier source still lists the old $500k figure from the 2022 cycle]
- Income within the program’s limits: this cycle, grants are for low- and moderate-income homeowners. Households above 120% of Brevard County’s Area Median Income (AMI) are not eligible for a grant, and applications open in priority waves: low-income homeowners 60 and older first, then low-income under 60, then moderate-income 60 and older, then moderate-income under 60. Seniors are first in line.
How the grant works: For every $1 you spend on an approved upgrade, the state provides $2, up to a maximum state contribution of $10,000. Low-income homeowners (at or below 80% AMI) receive the full $10,000 with no matching requirement.
The four upgrades the grant covers:
- Opening protection (impact windows, shutters, garage doors)
- Roof-to-wall attachment (hurricane straps/clips)
- Roof deck attachment
- Secondary water resistance underlayment
Wescon holds both a State Certified Roofing Contractor and Certified General Contractor license, covering every category of upgrade the MSFH grant funds. If you receive a grant approval, we can execute the qualifying upgrades with full documentation submitted to the program.
What Does a Wind Mitigation Report Look Like?
The OIR-B1-1802 is a multi-page standardized form issued by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. The updated 2026 version (Rev. 04/26) includes the following sections:
- Property identification: address, construction type, year built
- Building code compliance: when the home was built and whether it meets the 2001 or later Florida Building Code
- Roof covering: material type, installation date, FBC approval number
- Roof deck attachment: nail type, size, and spacing (verified from attic)
- Roof-to-wall connection: toenail, clip, single wrap, double wrap, or anchor (with photo documentation)
- Roof geometry: hip, gable, flat, or other; includes new slope calculation requirements under the 2026 form
- Secondary water resistance: peel-and-stick underlayment documented with permit and product approval
- Opening protection: window and door ratings for all glazed openings
- FORTIFIED Home™ designation: new 2026 addition; Roof, Silver, or Gold certification if applicable
- Region / wind zone: new 2026 addition based on ASCE 7-22 wind speed map
You can also download it from here – https://floir.gov/docs-sf/property-casualty-libraries/product-review/all-forms/form-oir-1802-adopted-version-(no-watermark).pdf
Wescon’s Free Wind Mitigation Report: What You Need to Know
When Wescon Construction replaces your roof, we include free wind mitigation report coordination (a $150 value) with every full roof replacement.
Here is what that means for you as a Brevard homeowner:
- We pull all required permits before work begins, creating the documented paper trail your inspector needs under the 2026 form requirements
- We offer peel-and-stick underlayment as an upgrade; it earns the Secondary Water Resistance (SWR) credit, and it’s the one credit you can only add while the roof deck is exposed. Ask about it when we scope your job
- We document nail type, spacing, and fastening patterns so the inspector can verify roof deck attachment without ambiguity
- After your roof is complete, we walk you through what we did, what your new roof qualifies for, and what your inspector will need to find to maximize your credits
- We also check for code compliance, secondary water resistance, and roof-to-wall credits; as Kristen says: most Brevard homes qualify for at least two credits on a new roof
After your Wescon roof replacement, we coordinate a licensed, statute-authorized inspector for you, and because we hand them a complete documentation file, the inspection goes faster and nothing gets missed. Many customers see their insurance premium decrease at the very next renewal.
Current offers (with postcard or mention of this page):
- $1,200 OFF Metal or Tile Full Roof Replacement
- $600 OFF Shingle Full Roof Replacement
- FREE Wind Mitigation Report ($150 value), included with all full replacements
Offers valid for 90 days. Licensed & Insured #CCC1330785.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wind Mitigation Reports in Florida
What is a wind mitigation report in Florida?
A wind mitigation report is a standardized inspection document (the OIR-B1-1802 form) completed by a licensed inspector that documents the wind-resistant features of your home. Florida law requires insurance companies to apply premium discounts based on what the report finds. It is the only document that legally obligates your insurer to lower your premium.
How much does a wind mitigation report save on insurance in Florida?
Brevard County homeowners typically save between $400 and $1,200 per year, depending on their home’s features and their current premium. Homes with hip roofs, peel-and-stick underlayment (SWR), post-2002 roof-to-wall connections, and FBC-compliant roof coverings consistently qualify for 20–40% reductions on the windstorm portion of their premium. Homes with impact windows or shutters can see even larger savings.
How long is a wind mitigation report good for in Florida?
A wind mitigation report in Florida is valid for five years from the date the inspection was completed, provided no material changes are made to the home. If you replace your roof or make structural upgrades before five years is up, you should get a new inspection; a new roof with proper materials and documentation almost always qualifies for better credits than an older report.
How do I get a wind mitigation report in Florida?
Hire a licensed inspector, schedule the inspection, ensure attic access is clear, and submit the completed OIR-B1-1802 form to your insurance company. If you recently had a roof replacement by a licensed contractor, gather your permits and product approval documents before the inspection; they are required under the new 2026 form.
Where do I find my wind mitigation report after a re-roof?
After Wescon completes your roof, you should receive copies of all permits and documentation directly from us. Your wind mitigation report is created by the licensed inspector after the job; it is not generated by the roofing contractor. However, the roofing contractor provides the documentation the inspector needs. If you had a roof replaced and never received a wind mitigation inspection, contact Wescon and we will help you get one started.
What does a wind mitigation report form look like?
The OIR-B1-1802 is a multi-page standardized form from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. It includes sections for building code compliance, roof covering type, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connection, roof geometry, secondary water resistance, opening protection, and, as of April 2026, FORTIFIED Home designation and regional wind zone classification.
What is the new 2026 wind mitigation form?
Effective April 1, 2026, all new wind mitigation inspections in Florida must use the updated OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26). The new form requires more detailed photo documentation, adds wind zone and roof slope as new fields, includes a FORTIFIED Home section, and demands permit records and product approval numbers for many credit categories. Inspections using the old 2012 form are still valid at most carriers if they were completed before April 1, 2026, fall within the five-year validity window, and no material changes have been made to the home.
How much does a wind mitigation report cost in Florida?
The inspection typically costs between $75 and $150. Wescon Construction includes wind mitigation report coordination as a free service with every full roof replacement, a $150 value. The inspection almost always pays for itself within the first year through insurance premium savings.
Does a new roof lower homeowners insurance in Florida?
Yes, in most cases, significantly. A new roof that is installed with FBC-compliant materials, peel-and-stick underlayment for Secondary Water Resistance, and proper fastening patterns for roof deck attachment and roof-to-wall connections can unlock multiple insurance credits simultaneously. When Wescon installs your new roof, we specifically document everything the inspector needs to verify all qualifying credits.
Can I get a free wind mitigation report in Florida?
Yes. The My Safe Florida Home Program at mysafeflhome.com offers a free wind mitigation inspection to eligible homeowners. Additionally, Wescon Construction provides free wind mitigation report coordination with every full roof replacement. Call us at (321) 259-6789 to find out what you qualify for.
What does a wind mitigation report do for my insurance?
It legally requires your insurance company to apply discounts for every verified wind-resistant feature documented in the report. The insurer receives the form, evaluates each category, and is required under Florida Statute §627.0629 to reduce your premium accordingly. The credits are automatically applied at your next renewal and continue for the life of the report (five years).
Ready to Find Out What You Could Save?
Call (321) 259-6789 or request your free estimate below. Most Brevard homeowners who replace their roof with Wescon qualify for at least two wind mitigation credits, and start seeing insurance savings at their next renewal.
Need Expert Advice on Your Roofing Project? Contact us today!
Get A Free Estimate
"*" indicates required fields
