Impact windows and doors can lower your Florida windstorm insurance premium through an opening protection credit. The credit is one of several hurricane mitigation discounts Florida insurers must offer, and it is verified by a wind mitigation inspection after the work is done. Here is how it works and what you need to do to get it.
Florida law requires insurers to offer mitigation discounts
Section 627.0629 of the Florida Statutes requires residential property insurers to offer premium discounts for construction features that reduce windstorm losses, and to tell policyholders about them at issuance and renewal. Opening protection is one of those features. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation publishes the rules and the inspection form.
What counts as opening protection
To earn the full credit, every exterior opening must be protected: windows, sliding glass doors, entry doors, garage doors and skylights. Protection means impact-rated glazing that has passed large-missile impact testing, or approved shutters rated to the same standard. Impact windows and doors with Florida Product Approval or a Miami-Dade NOA qualify. If even one opening is unprotected, the credit drops to a lower tier or disappears, which is why many homeowners replace everything at once.
The wind mitigation inspection
- The form. A licensed inspector completes the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802. A new version of the form took effect April 1, 2026.
- Who can inspect. Inspectors must be authorized under Section 627.711(2)(a), Florida Statutes. Home inspectors, general contractors, engineers and architects commonly qualify. Verify credentials before hiring.
- What they check. Roof shape, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connection, secondary water resistance, and opening protection. For openings, the inspector verifies the product approvals and that every opening is covered.
- How long it lasts. The form is valid for up to five years if no material changes are made to the structure.
- Cost. Inspections are typically a modest fee, and the premium savings usually repay it in the first year.
How much will I save?
Discount amounts are set by each insurer and depend on your home’s other mitigation features, your location and your policy. The opening protection credit is one of the larger line items on the form for most South Florida homes, but we do not quote a percentage because it varies. Ask your agent to run the OIR-B1-1802 form with and without opening protection so you can see the difference before you buy.
Steps to get the credit
- Replace every exterior opening with impact-rated windows and doors, or protect the remaining ones with approved shutters.
- Keep the product approval documents and the closed permit. Elevate Impact Windows provides both.
- Schedule a wind mitigation inspection after the final building inspection.
- Send the completed OIR-B1-1802 form to your insurance agent and ask for the premium to be re-rated.
Other savings to stack
- Energy. Low-E impact glass blocks solar heat and lowers cooling bills.
- My Safe Florida Home. The state program has offered grants of up to $10,000 toward qualifying improvements, including windows. Funding and eligibility change each year.
- Current offers. 20% off your entire order plus $0 down financing, subject to credit approval. See current offers.
Frequently asked questions
Do impact windows lower homeowners insurance in Florida?
Yes. Florida insurers are required to offer discounts for opening protection under Section 627.0629, Florida Statutes. The credit is verified by a wind mitigation inspection using form OIR-B1-1802.
Do I need every window and door to be impact-rated?
For the full credit, yes. Every exterior opening, including doors, garage doors and skylights, must be impact-rated or protected by approved shutters.
How long is a wind mitigation inspection good for?
Up to five years, as long as no material changes are made to the structure.
Who can do a wind mitigation inspection?
An inspector authorized under Section 627.711(2)(a), Florida Statutes, such as a licensed home inspector, general contractor, engineer or architect.
What documents do I need?
The product approvals (Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA) and the closed permit. Elevate Impact Windows provides both at the end of every job.