TL;DR: A licensed inspector examines your roof, opening protection, and construction details. Florida law requires insurers to apply premium credits based on the results. Stronger openings, including impact windows and doors, typically produce larger credits, but the exact savings depend on your insurer, policy type, and what the inspector can verify.
What You Need
- A Florida-licensed home inspector or general contractor authorized to complete a wind mitigation inspection (OIR-B1-1802 form)
- Documentation of any opening protection already installed: product approval numbers, Notice of Acceptance (NOA) documents, or permits
- A copy of your current homeowners insurance declarations page so you can compare before and after
- Roughly 60 to 90 minutes for the inspection itself
Step 1: Understand What the Report Actually Measures
The standard Florida wind mitigation form (OIR-B1-1802, issued by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation) evaluates seven construction attributes:
- Year built (building code era affects expectations)
- Roof covering (material and permit date)
- Roof deck attachment (nail size and spacing)
- Roof-to-wall connection (clips, straps, or single wraps)
- Roof shape (hip vs. gable)
- Opening protection (windows, doors, skylights)
- Secondary water resistance (self-adhering underlayment)
Opening protection is the attribute most directly affected by replacing standard windows and doors with impact-rated products. The inspector must see documentation, not just the hardware, to mark the strongest category.
Step 2: Know the Opening Protection Categories
The OIR-B1-1802 form uses specific ratings for openings:
- No protection: standard glass with no shutter or film
- Other rated: shutters or panels that meet a wind-load standard but do not meet the Miami-Dade or Florida Building Code impact standard
- Hurricane protection (panel/shutter): removable or permanent panels or shutters meeting the applicable impact standard
- Hurricane protection (impact glass): impact-resistant glazing on all openings, including windows, entry doors, and garage doors
Impact glass on every opening generally produces the largest credit in this category. If even one opening lacks rated protection, the inspector cannot mark the highest tier. A mix of impact windows with an unprotected or panel-protected garage door, for example, limits how the inspector scores the home.
Step 3: Get Your Existing Documentation in Order Before the Inspection
Inspectors must verify claims with physical evidence. Gather:
- Permits and inspection records from your county building department
- Product approval numbers from your window and door manufacturer or installer
- NOA documents for the specific products installed (Miami-Dade Product Control publishes these)
- Photos taken during installation showing each opening
If permits were pulled correctly and inspections passed, your county's permit portal should have records. Missing documentation can cause the inspector to default to a lower protection category even when the actual products qualify for a higher one. See 6 things to know before installing hurricane impact windows for context on the documentation chain.
Ask your insurer about wind-mitigation documentation. Request a free estimate
Step 4: Schedule and Complete the Inspection
You hire and pay for the inspection yourself; fees vary by inspector and region, so request quotes from several licensed inspectors in your area. The inspector visits the home, photographs each attribute, completes the OIR-B1-1802 form, and provides a signed report.
Submit the completed report to your insurance agent. Under Florida law (Section 627.0629, Florida Statutes), insurers must offer actuarially reasonable discounts, credits, or other rate differentials for construction features that reduce wind damage. The insurer applies credits based on its own rating schedule, not a single statewide table.
Step 5: Compare Your New Premium to Your Current One
Request an itemized breakdown from your insurer showing which attributes produced credits and at what percentage. Common outcomes:
- Roof shape and connection credits are applied regardless of window upgrades
- Opening protection credits can be substantial when all openings qualify at the impact-glass level
- Partial protection (some openings rated, some not) produces a lower credit or no credit in that category
If your report produces little change, ask your insurer to explain which attributes are limiting the credits. That answer often clarifies what future improvements would actually shift the premium.
Step 6: Factor Report Timing Into Any Planned Upgrades
If you are already planning to replace windows or doors, complete the installation and close the permits before ordering a new inspection. An inspection done before the work is finished cannot credit the new products.
The Florida hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 (NOAA). If you want updated coverage in place before peak season, allow time for installation, permit closeout, inspection, and insurer processing. Spring is the practical planning window for most South Florida projects.
If you are considering new hurricane impact windows or hurricane impact doors, ask your installer for the product approval numbers and NOA references before the project starts so your inspector has what they need when the work is done.
Common Mistakes
Assuming impact windows automatically update your policy. Insurers apply credits only after you submit a new or updated wind mitigation report. Installation alone does not trigger a premium change.
Leaving one opening unprotected. A single standard window, skylight, or garage door can prevent the inspector from marking the highest opening protection tier, even if every other opening has impact glass.
Ordering the inspection before permits close. An open permit means the work is not officially complete. Inspectors and insurers treat documentation gaps conservatively.
Not shopping the report. Different insurers apply different credit schedules to the same OIR-B1-1802 results. Your current insurer's credit may be lower than a competitor's. Share the report when getting quotes.
Confusing film with impact glass. Window film is not rated as opening protection on the OIR-B1-1802 form at the impact-glass level. It may offer some benefit, but it does not substitute for a product with an NOA for impact resistance.
Bottom Line
A wind mitigation report is a documentation exercise as much as a physical inspection. The credits you receive depend on what the inspector can verify, not just what is installed. Getting permits pulled correctly, keeping product approval records, and ensuring every opening is protected before you order the inspection are the practical steps that determine whether you reach the highest credit tier.
If you are planning a window or door project and want to understand which products qualify and what documentation will result from the installation, request an estimate from Window Guys of Florida. Getting the paperwork right from the start is what makes the insurance conversation straightforward later.
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 often should I get a new wind mitigation inspection?
There is no mandatory renewal interval set by a single statewide rule. Many insurers have historically accepted reports for several years, but confirm the accepted timeframe directly with your carrier. You should order a new inspection any time you make qualifying improvements, such as replacing windows or upgrading your roof, so the report reflects the current state of the home.
Can I use my wind mitigation report with multiple insurance companies?
Yes. The OIR-B1-1802 form is a standardized state document and is accepted by all Florida-authorized insurers. When shopping for coverage, share the same signed report with each carrier, since credit schedules vary by company.
Does a wind mitigation report help if my home was built after 2002?
Homes built under the 2002 Florida Building Code already receive some assumed credits because the code requires stronger construction. A report can still document specific attributes, like opening protection, that go beyond the baseline assumption and may produce additional credits.
Who is qualified to perform a Florida wind mitigation inspection?
Florida allows licensed home inspectors, building contractors, architects, engineers, and certain other licensed professionals to complete the OIR-B1-1802 form. Verify the inspector's license with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation before hiring.