Florida Wind Mitigation Inspections: What the Form Checks on Your Roof

If you own a home in Florida, you have probably heard the phrase "wind mit" from an insurance agent, a neighbor, or a home inspector. It refers to a state form that records how well a house is built to resist hurricane winds, and much of it is about the roof.

This guide explains what the form is, what it asks about your roof, who is allowed to sign it, and what a roof replacement can change on paper. It is educational only. We do not interpret insurance policies or coverage. For questions about your policy, contact your insurance company or agent directly.

Have questions about how your roof is built or what a re-roof would include? Call Shea Roofing LLC at (239) 744-6082. For the wind mitigation form itself, ask your insurance agent and a licensed inspector who is authorized to sign OIR-B1-1802.

What a Wind Mitigation Inspection Is

Florida law directs the Financial Services Commission to adopt a uniform mitigation verification inspection form that all insurers use when a policyholder submits it for wind discounts. That form is OIR-B1-1802.

According to the Florida Department of Financial Services, the revised version, OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26), must be used for all inspections as of April 1, 2026, and it spells out the documentation needed to verify each entry. The form states it is valid for up to five years if no material changes are made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found.

It also requires at least one photo or document as proof for each feature marked in questions 2 through 9.

Why Insurers Ask for It

Florida law requires insurers to account for features that reduce windstorm loss, such as roof strength and roof-to-wall connections, in their residential rate filings, and what that means for your own policy is a question for your agent or insurer.

The Roof Questions on the Form

Most of form OIR-B1-1802 is about the roof and how it is attached to the house. If you want background first, our guide to how the layers of a roof work together is a good primer.

• Roof covering (question 4). The inspector lists each covering type (shingle, concrete or clay tile, metal, membrane, and others) with a permit application date or a Florida or Miami-Dade product approval number and the year it was installed. Outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, the top answer requires that every covering meet the Florida Building Code with a product approval current at installation, a roofing permit application on or after March 1, 2002, or an original roof on a home built in 2004 or later.
• Roof deck attachment (question 5). This records the weakest way the plywood or OSB is fastened to the framing, from staples or smaller nails up to larger nails at closer spacing.
• Roof-to-wall attachment (question 6). This records the weakest connection between the roof framing and the walls: toenails, clips, single wraps, double wraps, or structural anchors.
• Roof geometry (question 7). A hip roof is one where other roof shapes make up no more than 10 percent of the total roof perimeter.
• Sealed roof deck, also called secondary water resistance (question 8). This is a layer meant to limit water intrusion if the roof covering is lost. The form lists qualifying methods: a fully adhered self-adhering underlayment, tape over the deck seams under felt or synthetic underlayment, a double layer of underlayment, or spray foam applied to the underside of the deck. The form says standard underlayment and hot-mopped felts do not qualify.

The form also covers building code, wind region, roof slope, and opening protection.

What a Re-Roof Can Change on Paper

A roof replacement does not decide your premium. It can change what an inspector is able to document.

• Roof covering. A permitted replacement creates a new permit date, and the new materials come with Florida product approval numbers.
• Deck nailing and a secondary water barrier. Under Section 706.7 of the Florida Building Code, Existing Building, when the roof covering is removed and replaced on an existing structure with a wood roof deck, the code sets roof deck attachment requirements and calls for a secondary water barrier. Homes originally permitted under the Florida Building Code are exempt from that section, so it mostly affects older homes.
• Roof-to-wall connections on some homes. Section 706.8 requires improving roof-to-wall connections during a re-roof on certain higher-value homes in the wind-borne debris region, capped at a 15 percent increase in the cost of reroofing. Homes permitted under the Florida Building Code are exempt.
• Underlayment methods. Several underlayment methods used under the current Florida Building Code, such as a fully adhered self-adhering underlayment or taped deck seams, are the same kinds of methods the form lists for a sealed roof deck. Whether your roof qualifies is the inspector's call, based on photos and documents.

That is why records from the job matter: the permit, product approval numbers, and photos of the deck nailing and underlayment taken before the roof covering goes on. Once the roof is finished, an inspector usually cannot see the underlayment. Ask your contractor what closeout photos and product approval records they provide with the job file.

If your roof's age is coming up at renewal, our post on roof age and insurance renewals covers the Florida rules on that topic.

Who Can Sign the Form

Florida law says an insurer must accept the form as valid when it is signed by one of these authorized mitigation inspectors:

• A home inspector licensed under Florida Statute 468.8314 who has completed the required hurricane mitigation training and exam
• A building code inspector certified under Florida Statute 468.607
• A general, building, or residential contractor licensed under Florida Statute 489.111
• A professional engineer or a professional architect licensed in Florida
• Any other individual or entity the insurer recognizes as qualified

The signer must generally inspect the home personally, though licensed contractors and engineers may use a qualified direct employee. Insurers may also have a submitted form independently verified. You can look up any Florida license at myfloridalicense.com.

Before You Schedule

Call your agent or insurer first and ask whether a new form could change anything on your policy. Then gather your roof permit, product approval numbers, and any photos from your last re-roof, and hire an authorized inspector from the list above.

About Shea Roofing LLC

Shea Roofing LLC is a licensed and insured Florida roofing contractor based on Taylor Road in Punta Gorda. We have been roofing for over 20 years in Southwest Florida, we are a certified contractor with multiple manufacturers, and we install tile, metal, shingle, and flat roofs to the current Florida Building Code. We serve Punta Gorda, Punta Gorda Isles, Port Charlotte, and the rest of Southwest Florida.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a wind mitigation inspection in Florida?

It is an inspection recorded on the state's uniform mitigation verification form, OIR-B1-1802, which documents features that help a home resist windstorm damage, such as roof covering, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections, roof shape, a sealed roof deck, and opening protection. Insurers use it when considering wind mitigation discounts.

How long is a Florida wind mitigation form valid?

The form states it is valid for up to five years, as long as no material changes have been made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found. Inspections on or after April 1, 2026, must use the revised form, OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26).

Will a new roof change my wind mitigation report?

It can change what the report is able to document, such as a new permit date and product approvals, and on some older homes code-required deck nailing, a secondary water barrier, or roof-to-wall improvements. Whether that changes your premium is up to your insurer, so ask your agent.

Who is allowed to sign a wind mitigation form?

Florida law lists trained licensed home inspectors, certified building code inspectors, licensed general, building, or residential contractors, engineers, architects, and anyone else the insurer recognizes as qualified.

Questions About Your Roof?

If you are planning a re-roof or want to understand how your current roof is built, call us at (239) 744-6082. We will explain what we find in plain English.

Shea Roofing LLC
6025 Taylor Rd, Suite #107, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(239) 744-6082
Florida License CCC1334196