Windstorm Mitigation Credits: Upgrades That Lower Your Premium

Learn which wind mitigation upgrades cut your Florida homeowners premium most. B & B Insurance Agency walks you through credits, inspections, and deadlines.

TL;DR:** Florida's wind mitigation credit program lets homeowners reduce the windstorm portion of their premium by upgrading roofing, opening protection, and roof-to-wall connections. A licensed inspector documents what you have, your insurer applies the credits, and your renewal drops. Get the inspection before June 1, the official start of hurricane season, so savings hit before the next big storm. What You Need Before you schedule an inspection or call a contractor, gather these items: Your current homeowners insurance declarations page (so you can compare before and after) Permit records for any roof work, window replacements, or door installs done in the past 20 years The name of your roof covering material and its installation date Contact info for a Florida-licensed home inspector or wind mitigation specialist Your insurer's wind mitigation form (Florida uses a standardized OIR-B1-1802 form) You do not need to make any upgrades before the inspection. The inspector simply documents what already exists. If the report shows gaps, you can decide which upgrades pencil out financially. Step 1: Understand What Wind Mitigation Credits Actually Cover This is the single most misunderstood piece of the puzzle, so let's clear it up before anything else. Your homeowners insurance policy bundles several coverages. Windstorm is one of them, but in South Florida, carriers are required to give premium credits specifically tied to how well your home resists hurricane-force winds. These credits apply to the windstorm premium**, not your total policy premium. The savings are still substantial, but do not expect your entire bill to drop by the percentage you see advertised. Flood damage is a completely separate story. A hurricane that pushes a storm surge through your door is a…