Florida roof programs: My Safe Florida Home and insurance discounts (2026)

My Safe Florida Home is the state program that offers a free wind mitigation inspection and a grant of up to $10,000 to harden your home against hurricanes: the state contributes $2 for every $1 from the homeowner, and low-income homeowners can receive up to $10,000 with no match. The rules are in the law (F.S. 215.5586); available money and application windows change yearly and are posted at mysafeflhome.com. Separately from the program, Florida law requires insurers to give discounts for the same improvements.

What exactly does My Safe Florida Home provide?

Two things, in this order:

1. Free inspection. A certified inspector reviews the home and delivers a report with recommended mitigation improvements and an estimate of insurance discounts. It is useful even if you never request the grant.
2. Matching grant. Under the law, grants are matched on the basis of $1 from the applicant for $2 from the state, up to a maximum state contribution of $10,000. In other words: to receive the full $10,000, the homeowner puts in $5,000 on a $15,000 job. Low-income homeowners (as defined in the law) receive up to $10,000 with no match.

Who qualifies under the law?

And the priority order the law sets when money does not cover everyone: low-income persons 60 or older first, then other low-income applicants, then moderate-income persons 60 or older. The definitions of “low” and “moderate” income refer to area median income; the program site publishes the county tables.

What work does it cover?

The law lists the grant-eligible improvements: opening protection (windows, doors, garage), roof-to-wall connections, roof deck attachment and secondary water resistance under the roof. Those are the same four categories scored on Florida’s wind mitigation form (OIR-B1-1802), which is why a grant-funded job usually also translates into an insurance discount.

Heads up: the program is not “free roof,” and some contractors pitch it that way to close. The roof comes in when the inspection recommends improvements achieved through replacement (deck, secondary membrane, connections), within the cap and with the match. The program also requires contractors on its registered list and generally works by reimbursement after the job is done; read the current cycle’s rules before signing with anyone. If a contractor asks you to sign “so you don’t lose the grant,” that is the moment to stop.

How is funding in 2026?

The program depends on what the Legislature approves each cycle and has run out of money several times, with waitlists. The law sets the priorities; the official site posts whether a window is open, for which group and with what date. We do not write an “open/closed” status here because it changes: check mysafeflhome.com the day you apply.

What insurance discounts does the law require?

Statute 627.0629 requires Florida insurers to include in their rates actuarially reasonable discounts, credits or differentials for homes with construction features that reduce windstorm losses. The discount is documented with form OIR-B1-1802, which the Office of Insurance Regulation says is valid for up to 5 years if there are no material changes to the structure.

The features that score: roof shape (hip), deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections, secondary water resistance and opening protection. The specific percentages are set by each insurer in its approved rate filing; there is no single table. Ask your agent for the estimate with and without each improvement before hiring the work.

When waiting for the program does NOT make sense

• Your roof has under 5 years of useful life and the insurer has already sent notice (15-year rule, F.S. 627.7011): you cannot wait for a funding window.
• Your home’s building permit is 2008 or later, or the insured value exceeds $700,000 (and you are not low-income): you do not qualify under the law.
• You do not have homestead or do not occupy the home: outside the program.
• You need the roof before installing solar and the application window is closed: get a mitigation inspection on your own, claim the discount and move on. See roof before solar.

What to check before you decide

• Whether you meet the six requirements in the table; the building permit is on your county’s portal.
• Today’s application window status at mysafeflhome.com and which priority group you belong to.
• Request the free inspection first, even if you will not do work: the report is worth an insurance discount.
• That the contractor is on the program’s list and the contract states which report improvements will be executed.
• Talk to your insurance agent before the work: ask for the estimated premium with the report’s improvements. Your roof’s remaining life decides whether this is urgent or plannable.