TL;DR: Florida law requires insurers to offer wind mitigation credits, but the actual discount depends on your home's verified features, not just what you installed. Getting a current inspection using the OIR-B1-1802 form is the starting point. Impact windows and doors typically produce the largest credits available under the program.
What Happened
Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation has maintained the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, known as OIR-B1-1802, as the standard document insurers must use when calculating wind mitigation credits. The form was last revised in 2012, and as of the time this article was written, that version remains in effect for most personal residential policies. Insurers are required by Florida Statute 627.0629 to offer premium discounts, credits, or other rate differentials for fixtures and construction techniques that reduce hurricane damage.
Heading into the 2026 hurricane season, the Florida insurance market continues to see elevated premiums across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin, and St. Lucie counties. Several carriers have exited the state or reduced their exposure in coastal ZIP codes over the past few years. Citizens Property Insurance, the state-backed insurer of last resort, has been pushing policyholders toward private market options through its depopulation program. All of that puts more pressure on homeowners to extract every legitimate discount available, and wind mitigation credits are among the most reliable tools to do that.
The 2026 hurricane season forecast points to continued above-average activity in the Atlantic basin, which adds urgency to getting both protection and documentation in order before June 1.
Why It Matters
The OIR-B1-1802 form evaluates several features of your home: roof covering, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connection, roof shape, opening protection, and the presence of a secondary water resistance barrier. Each category generates a separate credit. Opening protection, which is where windows, doors, and skylights are evaluated, is typically the category where homeowners can make the most direct impact through a specific upgrade.
Opening protection is rated in three tiers on the form. The highest tier requires that all openings, meaning every window, door, and skylight, be protected with products that meet the Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance (NOA) or Florida Product Approval standards. Impact-rated glazing and impact-rated doors typically qualify for this tier, as do certain accordion and panel shutters, provided the correct approvals are in place and the installation is documented properly.
This distinction matters. A partial upgrade, say replacing five of ten windows with impact glass, does not earn the top opening protection credit because the form requires all openings to be covered to reach that tier. Homeowners who have done a partial installation should understand that the insurance benefit may not scale proportionally until the scope is complete. That is an honest trade-off worth knowing before you plan a project.
Hurricane impact windows that carry a valid Florida Product Approval number and were installed by a licensed contractor with permits pulled and inspections passed are the documentation chain your insurer and inspector need to see. Missing any link in that chain, such as no permit record or an expired NOA on the product, can drop you to a lower credit tier even if the physical glass is in your home.
For homes with entry doors, garage doors, and sliding glass doors, the same logic applies. Hurricane impact doors must carry their own product approvals and installation records. Garage doors are a separate line item on the inspection form and are evaluated under their own criteria.
The financial stakes are real. Wind mitigation credits in South Florida can represent hundreds to over a thousand dollars per year in premium savings on some policies, though the exact figure depends on your carrier, your coverage amount, your home's construction type, and the specific features verified on your inspection. Anyone quoting you a specific dollar amount before an inspection is done is guessing. Get the inspection, then ask your insurer to run a quote comparison.
For homeowners exploring all the reasons to upgrade, the guide on benefits of impact windows beyond storm defense covers noise reduction, energy performance, and other factors that affect long-term value alongside insurance savings.
Ask your insurer about wind-mitigation documentation. Request a free estimate
What We Don't Know Yet
Several variables affecting 2026 wind mitigation credits remain unsettled or carrier-dependent.
First, the OIR-B1-1802 form revision that has been discussed in Florida insurance regulatory circles has not been finalized as of this writing. Any form update could change how opening protection tiers are defined or how roof features are weighted. Homeowners who get an inspection done under the current form and then see a revised form introduced could face re-inspection requirements when their policy renews. Verify the current form version with your insurer before scheduling an inspection.
Second, Citizens Property Insurance has its own underwriting rules that interact with wind mitigation credits in ways that differ from some private carriers. If you are a Citizens policyholder being moved to a private carrier through depopulation, your new insurer may weigh the same inspection form differently. Ask your agent to walk through the credit calculation specifically before accepting a depopulation offer.
Third, Florida's legislative sessions have repeatedly touched insurance reform, and rate filings are approved or denied on a rolling basis by OIR. Premium levels in 2026 may shift as reforms passed in recent sessions continue to move through the system. Wind mitigation credits are applied as a percentage discount off the base rate, so if your base rate changes, the dollar value of your credit changes even if your home's features stay the same.
Finally, re-roofing requirements have become a flashpoint in South Florida. If your roof is replaced, some insurers require a new wind mitigation inspection before restoring or recalculating credits. If you are planning a roof project in 2026, coordinate the timing with your insurance agent to avoid a gap in your credit.
What to Do About It
Here is a practical sequence for South Florida homeowners who want to make the most of wind mitigation discounts in 2026.
Step 1: Pull your current inspection report. If you have an existing OIR-B1-1802 on file with your insurer, look at the opening protection rating. If it shows anything below the top tier, that is where the largest remaining credit opportunity likely sits. Most wind mitigation inspections are valid for five years, though individual insurers may have shorter requirements. Check yours.
Step 2: Identify gaps in opening protection. Walk through your home and note every opening that is not protected by an approved impact product or approved shutter system. Windows, entry doors, sliding glass doors, French doors, skylights, and garage doors all count. A licensed contractor can help you assess what products and approvals apply to each opening. Starting with a window and door replacement consultation can give you a realistic scope and cost.
Step 3: Verify product approvals before you buy. Florida Product Approval numbers are searchable through the Florida Building Commission's online system. Any product proposed for your project should have a current, valid approval that matches the application type, whether that is impact-resistant, large missile, or another designation. Your contractor should be able to provide this documentation. For more on what to evaluate before committing to an installation, the guide on 6 things to know before installing hurricane impact windows is worth reading.
Step 4: Use a licensed contractor and pull permits. This is not optional if you want the insurance benefit. The inspection record and permit closure document are part of the paper trail that supports your wind mitigation inspection. A contractor who suggests skipping the permit to save money is also eliminating your ability to document the installation for insurance purposes. For context on why DIY is not a realistic path here, see why you shouldn't DIY impact windows.
Step 5: Schedule a new wind mitigation inspection after installation. The inspection must be done by a qualified inspector, typically a licensed general contractor, building inspector, architect, or engineer. The inspector will verify the installation against the permit record and product approval. Once you have the completed OIR-B1-1802 in hand, submit it to your insurer and request a re-rating.
Step 6: Ask your insurer to show you the credit calculation. Florida law requires insurers to apply credits, but you should confirm the math. Ask for a written breakdown showing how each section of the form affected your premium. If anything looks wrong, your agent or the insurer's underwriting department should be able to explain it.
If you are ready to start scoping a project, request an estimate and bring your current wind mitigation report if you have one. That document helps a contractor understand what approvals and installation details matter most for your specific situation.
The Florida hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, per the National Hurricane Center. Scheduling installations well before June gives time for permit processing, material lead times, and the follow-up inspection before peak season arrives.
Ask your insurer about wind-mitigation documentation.
Qualifying impact-rated installations may support wind-mitigation credits. Eligibility and premium changes vary by insurer, policy, property, inspection, documentation, and opening protection.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a wind mitigation inspection valid in Florida?
Most wind mitigation inspections are accepted by insurers for five years, but individual carriers may require a more recent report. Always confirm the validity period with your specific insurer before scheduling or relying on an older inspection.
Do I need all openings protected to get the top insurance credit?
Yes. The OIR-B1-1802 form's highest opening protection tier requires that every opening, including windows, doors, skylights, and garage doors, be protected with approved impact products or approved shutter systems. A partial upgrade will earn a lower tier credit until the full scope is complete.
Can I use accordion shutters instead of impact glass and still get the credit?
Shutters with valid Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA can qualify for opening protection credits under the OIR-B1-1802 form. The credit tier depends on the type of protection and whether all openings are covered. Impact glass and approved shutters are evaluated under the same opening protection category, so either can qualify at the top tier if all openings are protected.
What documents does a wind mitigation inspector need to see?
The inspector will typically want to see the permit record showing the installation was inspected and closed, the Florida Product Approval number for each product installed, and access to the openings themselves. Having a licensed contractor pull permits and provide approval documentation is essential to a clean inspection outcome.
Will re-roofing affect my existing wind mitigation credits?
Possibly yes. Some insurers require a new wind mitigation inspection after a roof replacement because roof features like deck attachment and roof-to-wall connections are part of the credit calculation. Coordinate the timing of any roof project with your insurance agent to avoid losing credits during the transition.
How do I find out what credit I am currently receiving on my policy?
Ask your insurer for a written breakdown of how your current wind mitigation form is rated. Florida law requires insurers to apply credits based on the submitted inspection, and they should be able to show you which sections of the OIR-B1-1802 form are reflected in your current premium.