Wind Mitigation Inspections in Flagler County: What Gets Checked and Why It Matters
If you own a home in Palm Coast or anywhere in Flagler County, a wind mitigation inspection is one of the easiest ways to lower your homeowners insurance. Florida law (Section 627.0629, Florida Statutes) requires insurers to offer discounts for verified wind-resistant features. The wind mitigation report is how you prove those features exist.
The inspection isn't required by law, but most homeowners are glad they did it. At Pointer, it's included free with every full home inspection.
What the inspector checks
The report uses a state form called the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802. Each answer needs photos to back it up. The main items are:
Roof covering: the type of roof and whether it meets the building code in effect when it was installed.
Roof deck attachment: how the plywood or boards are nailed to the trusses. I check this from the attic.
Roof-to-wall connection: whether the trusses are held to the walls with clips, single wraps or double wraps.
Roof shape: hip roofs, which slope on all four sides, generally do better in high wind than gable roofs.
Secondary water resistance: whether there is an added barrier under the roof covering.
Opening protection: shutters or impact-rated windows and doors. The weakest opening sets the rating, so one unprotected door or garage door can lower it.
What changed in 2026
Florida updated the form effective April 1, 2026 (Rev. 04/26). The new version adds more detail, including a section for homes with the FORTIFIED designation. If you already have a report on the older 2012 form, the Florida Department of Financial Services says it stays usable for up to five years from the inspection date.
How long a report lasts
According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, the form is valid for up to five years as long as no material changes are made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found. If you replace your roof, add shutters or install impact windows, get a new report so your insurer can see the upgrade.
A word of caution
A wind mitigation report documents your home's features. It doesn't promise a specific discount. Each insurer applies its own credits, so send the report to your agent and ask them to re-rate your policy.
Schedule your inspection with Pointer
Pointer Home Inspections is owned by John Brea, a Florida-licensed home inspector (HI16531) and InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector with more than 30 years in construction. Every full home inspection includes a free whole-house infrared scan, a free wind mitigation report and a free 4-point report, and your report arrives the next morning. We serve Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell, Ormond Beach and the rest of Flagler and Volusia counties, in English or Spanish.
Call (386) 414-7500, email jbrea@pointerhomeinspections.com, or book on our Schedule Now page.
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