Wind Mitigation in Broward County: How a New Roof Can Lower Your Insurance

For many Fort Lauderdale homeowners, the most immediate payoff of a new roof isn’t the look — it’s the insurance bill. Broward County sits in the Florida Building Code’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), and Florida law ties homeowners insurance discounts to specific, verifiable construction features. Here is how wind mitigation works and how to make sure a re-roof earns every credit it can.

What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?

A wind mitigation inspection documents how well your home resists hurricane winds, using the state’s Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802). It must be completed by a qualified professional — such as a licensed general, building or residential contractor, a building code inspector, a qualified home inspector, an engineer or an architect. Insurers use the form to rate your policy, and a completed form is generally valid for five years.

The Seven Features on the Form

1. Building code: whether the home or roof was built to a qualifying code. In Broward and Miami-Dade, permits under the South Florida Building Code after 1994 or the Florida Building Code generally qualify.
2. Roof covering: whether the roof covering meets current code with documented product approval.
3. Roof-deck attachment: how the plywood deck is fastened to the trusses — nail size and spacing matter.
4. Roof-to-wall attachment: toe nails, clips, single wraps or double wraps holding the roof structure to the walls.
5. Roof geometry: hip roofs resist wind better than gable roofs.
6. Secondary water resistance (SWR): a sealed roof deck that keeps water out if the roof covering is lost.
7. Opening protection: impact-rated windows and doors or approved shutters on all openings.

How a New Roof Improves Your Report

A properly permitted re-roof is the best moment to upgrade several of these features at once, because the deck is exposed:

• Roof covering is brought to current code with documented product approval.
• Deck attachment is upgraded by re-nailing the existing deck to the current fastening schedule.
• Secondary water resistance is added with a sealed deck — a self-adhered underlayment or taped seams.
• In some homes, roof-to-wall connections can be improved while the edges are open.

Combined with impact windows and doors for opening protection, these features can make a large difference in the wind portion of a premium. Discounts vary by insurer and home, so ask your agent to re-rate your policy with the new form once the roof is finished.

HVHZ Product Approvals

In the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, roofing products must carry an approval that is valid for HVHZ use — typically a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) or a Florida Product Approval rated for HVHZ. A contractor working in Broward should specify approved products and keep the approval documents with your permit records; inspectors and insurers may ask for them.

Florida Roof Rules Every Homeowner Should Know

The “25% rule” changed in 2022

Florida previously required a full roof-section replacement if more than 25% of it was repaired within 12 months. Since 2022, if your existing roof was built or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, only the repaired portion must meet current code.

Roof age and insurance

Under Florida law passed in 2022, insurers may not refuse to write or renew a homeowners policy solely because the roof is less than 15 years old. For older roofs, the insurer must allow an inspection before refusing coverage based on roof age.

Permits and Inspections

Every roof replacement in Fort Lauderdale requires a permit and multiple inspections, including an in-progress inspection before the roof is dried in. That permit history is the documentation your wind mitigation inspector and insurer rely on. Unpermitted roofing leaves you with nothing to prove.

Plan Your Roof Around Your Policy

Vision Build & Development installs and replaces roofs across Broward County to the current Florida Building Code, with documented product approvals and full permitting. Learn more about our roofing services in Fort Lauderdale, call (954) 835-4490, or request a free roof inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a wind mitigation inspection in Florida?

An inspection that documents your home’s wind-resistant features on Form OIR-B1-1802. Insurers use it to apply premium discounts that Florida law requires them to offer.

How much does a wind mitigation inspection cost?

Typically about $75–$150 when done on its own, and it is often bundled with a four-point inspection.

Does a new roof lower homeowners insurance in Florida?

Often, yes. A code-compliant re-roof can document roof covering, deck attachment and secondary water resistance, which commonly reduces the wind portion of the premium.

How long is a wind mitigation report valid?

A completed form is generally valid for five years, as long as the home’s features haven’t changed.

Is Broward County in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone?

Yes. Broward and Miami-Dade counties are the HVHZ under the Florida Building Code, which sets stricter requirements for roofing products and installation.

Written by the Vision Build & Development team — a licensed and insured Florida Certified General Contractor (license #CGC1537007) at 5711 NE 14th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, rated 5.0 on Google. This article is general information, not insurance or legal advice; confirm discounts with your insurer. Last updated October 2026.