Wind mitigation and 4-point inspections in Pinellas County

Updated November 4, 2026

What a wind mitigation inspection is

A wind mitigation inspection documents the features of your home that help it stand up to hurricane winds. The inspector records what they find on the state's Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, known as OIR-B1-1802. Your insurance company can use that form to apply wind premium credits, if your home qualifies.

In Pinellas County, where most homes are within a short drive of the Gulf or Tampa Bay, wind coverage is a big part of the homeowners insurance bill. That makes it worth knowing what your home already has on paper.

What the form looks at

The current form (Rev. 04/26) asks about these areas, and each feature the inspector marks needs a supporting photo or document:

• Building code: the year and code version the home was built under.
• Roof covering: the type of covering and proof of when it was installed or permitted.
• Roof deck attachment: how the sheathing is fastened to the roof framing.
• Roof-to-wall attachment: the weakest connection between roof framing and walls (toenails, clips, wraps and so on).
• Roof geometry: for example, hip roof or other.
• Secondary water resistance: whether the roof deck is sealed in a way that limits water entry if shingles are lost.
• Opening protection: shutters, impact windows and doors, or none, based on the weakest opening.

The form also records roof slope and wind region. See our {GUIDE:wind-mitigation-form-explained} for a section-by-section walkthrough.

What to expect on inspection day

A typical visit starts outside, where the inspector looks at the roof covering, roof shape and openings such as windows, doors and garage doors. They then go into the attic if they can, to look at how the roof deck is attached and how the roof frame connects to the walls. They take photos of each feature they mark on the form.

Plan for access to the attic, the electrical panel and any shutters or panels you store. If something cannot be seen, the form may say "unknown" or "no attic access", and that answer may mean no credit for that feature. Ask your inspector how long the visit will take, since it varies by home size and layout.

Who can sign it

Florida law lists who may verify and sign the form. Under section 627.711, Florida Statutes, that includes:

• a licensed home inspector who has completed the required hurricane mitigation training and exam,
• a certified building code inspector,
• a licensed general, building or residential contractor,
• a licensed professional engineer or architect,
• or another person or entity your insurer recognizes as qualified.

Before you book, ask the inspector which license they hold and check it with the state. Your homeowner also signs to confirm the inspection took place.

How long it lasts and how credits work

The Office of Insurance Regulation says a completed form is valid for up to five years, as long as no material changes are made to the structure and the form has no inaccuracies. See the OIR wind mitigation resources.

Credits come through your insurer. Section 627.0629, Florida Statutes requires residential property rate filings to include actuarially reasonable discounts, credits or other rate differentials for properties with windstorm-damage-reducing features. How much you save, if anything, depends on your insurer, your home and what the inspection finds. Nothing is guaranteed, so ask your agent or insurer how your form will be used.

What a 4-point inspection is

A 4-point inspection is a different report. It looks at four systems: the roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC. Insurers often ask for one when a home is older, because those systems drive many claims. Citizens Property Insurance, for example, announced that it requires a 4-point inspection for properties over 20 years old on new and renewal policies effective on or after February 1, 2022. Other insurers set their own rules, so ask yours what it requires.

A wind mitigation inspection and a 4-point inspection are separate documents, and many inspectors can do both in one visit. Read more in our guide to the 4-point inspection.

Roof age and roof certification

Insurers sometimes ask about roof age or remaining life. A January 2026 Florida Senate staff analysis describes current law in section 627.7011(5): an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a homeowner policy solely because of roof age if the roof is under 15 years old. For a roof 15 years or older, the owner may get an inspection by an authorized inspector, at the owner's expense, and the insurer may not refuse solely due to roof age if the inspection finds at least five years of useful life remaining. (staff analysis.) Laws can change, so confirm the current statute.

There is no single standard "roof certification" form we found in the statutes we reviewed. What counts is what your insurer accepts.

Timing: buying, renewing and replacing a roof

Buying: ask about insurance before closing, and schedule inspections inside your contract's inspection period. Renewing: if your insurer sends a mitigation discount notice at renewal, check whether you have a current form on file. New roof: an updated form after a replacement may show newer features. Keep the permit and invoices; insurers rely on them.

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Why local matters in Pinellas

Pinellas is a peninsula with Gulf and bay shoreline, barrier-island towns and many established neighborhoods. Older homes may have older roofs and older electrical or plumbing systems, which is why insurers often ask about them. Coastal addresses may also sit in flood zones, and the county notes that most homeowners policies do not cover flooding. Wind mitigation and 4-point reports help with wind and insurability questions, but they are not flood coverage.

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