Do Hurricane Windows Reduce Insurance in Florida?

Last Updated: March 2026
Installing certified hurricane impact windows can potentially reduce your homeowners’ insurance premiums in Florida. Under Florida Statute §627.0629, insurance companies are required to offer actuarially reasonable premium discounts to policyholders who have verified wind mitigation features on their homes, and impact-rated opening protection is one of the highest-value credits available.

The discount is not automatic. To receive it, your home must pass a wind mitigation inspection, and the results must be documented on Florida’s official Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802). The inspection verifies the protection level on every exterior glazed opening in your home, and the discount applies to the wind/hurricane portion of your premium.

Below you will find answers to additional frequently asked questions from our readers about hurricane windows and insurance.

Will Installing Hurricane Windows Lead to Lower Insurance Premiums?

Yes, in most cases. The discount comes through Florida’s wind mitigation credit system. According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Section 627.0629 of the Florida Statutes requires OIR to review and update the fixtures and construction techniques demonstrated to reduce windstorm damage, along with the related insurance discounts, every five years.

The opening protection credit (Question 7 on the OIR-B1-1802 inspection form) is where hurricane windows deliver the most value. The form categorizes opening protection into several tiers:

Level	Description	Typical Discount Impact
A (highest)	All glazed openings protected with cyclic pressure and large missile rated products	Largest wind premium reduction
B	All glazed openings protected with cyclic pressure and large missile rated products	Significant reduction
C	All glazed openings protected with cyclic pressure and small missile rated products	Moderate reduction
N	Unverified shutter systems with no documentation of compliance	Minimal or no reduction
X (lowest)	One or more glazed openings with no protection	No reduction

The critical detail: your discount is determined by the weakest form of protection on any opening. If you install impact windows on 19 out of 20 windows but leave one unprotected, the entire home receives the “X” rating and no opening protection credit. Complete coverage of all glazed openings (windows, glass doors, sidelights, and glass-containing garage doors) is required to qualify for the top tier.

How Do Insurance Companies Evaluate Hurricane Windows for Discounts?

The evaluation process follows a standardized procedure established by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation:

Step 1: Wind mitigation inspection. A qualified inspector (licensed home inspector with hurricane mitigation training, building code inspector, general/building/residential contractor, professional engineer, or professional architect) examines your home and completes the OIR-B1-1802 form. The inspection covers seven areas: building code compliance, roof covering, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connection, roof geometry, secondary water resistance, and opening protection.

Step 2: Documentation review. For opening protection, the inspector must verify that each window, door, and opening is protected by a product listed in the Florida Product Approval system. Acceptable documentation includes product approval numbers, certificates, installation permits, and photographs showing impact-rated labels on each product. According to Citizens Property Insurance’s wind mitigation documentation guidelines, the inspector photographs labels and verifies approval numbers against the official databases.

Step 3: Form submission. The completed OIR-B1-1802 form is submitted to your insurance company, which applies the appropriate credits at your next renewal. Credits are applied to the wind/hurricane portion of your premium, not the total policy amount.

Step 4: Renewal cycle. The inspection is valid for five years under Florida Statute §627.711, provided no material changes have been made to the structure. After five years, a new inspection is required to maintain the credits.

What Percentage of Insurance Savings Can Hurricane Windows Provide?

The actual dollar savings depend on three variables: your total premium, the percentage of your premium allocated to wind coverage, and your insurer’s specific discount schedule.

Here is what the math typically looks like for a Florida homeowner:

Variable	Coastal Homeowner	Inland Homeowner
Annual homeowners premium	$6,000	$3,000
Wind portion of premium	70% ($4,200)	30% ($900)
Opening protection credit (15%)	$630/year	$135/year
Opening protection credit (25%)	$1,050/year	$225/year
10-year savings range	$6,300 – $10,500	$1,350 – $2,250

Note: The wind portion of your premium ranges from approximately 15% to 70% of your total premium depending on your Florida location, with coastal areas carrying the highest wind allocation. Actual discount percentages vary by carrier and are applied as filed with the OIR.

Opening protection is just one of seven credit categories on the wind mitigation form. Homeowners who also have hip roofs, modern roof-to-wall connections (clips or wraps), code-compliant roof deck attachment, and secondary water resistance can stack multiple credits. Some Florida homeowners with comprehensive mitigation features have reported potential savings of 30% or more on their total premium.

What Documentation Is Required to Qualify for Hurricane Window Insurance Discounts?

The documentation requirements are specific and must be verified by a qualified inspector:

• Product approval numbers: Every Impact Window must have a Florida Product Approval number (searchable at floridabuilding.org) or an HVHZ rating certificate, which can be verified through the Florida Building Product Approval system. The inspector needs to verify the product type, not just that “something” is installed.
• Impact rating labels: Most certified impact windows have permanent labels on the glass or frame that identify the manufacturer, product approval number, and performance rating. The inspector photographs these labels as part of the documentation.
• Building permits: The installation permit from your local building department confirms that the windows were installed to code by a licensed contractor and passed inspection.
• Product approval certificates: If labels are not visible or readable, the manufacturer’s certificate of compliance or HVHZ rating documentation can serve as backup verification.
• Photographs: The OIR-B1-1802 form requires at least one photograph per mitigation feature to validate the inspector’s findings.

If you already have impact windows but have never had a wind mitigation inspection, you may be paying more than necessary. Contact your insurance company to confirm whether a current OIR-B1-1802 form is on file. If not, scheduling an inspection could immediately reduce your premium at your next renewal.

Do Hurricane Shutters and Hurricane Screens Also Qualify for the Same Insurance Discounts?

Yes. The wind mitigation credit for opening protection applies equally to Impact Windows, Hurricane Shutters, and Hurricane Screens, as long as the products are listed in the Florida Product Approval system and cover all exterior glazed openings.

This means homeowners do not need to choose the most expensive option to get the insurance benefit. A home with certified Accordion Shutters on every window may receive the same opening protection credit as a home with full Impact Windows, assuming both achieve the same rating level on the OIR-B1-1802 form.

Here is how the options compare from a cost-to-insurance-benefit perspective:

Protection Type	Insurance Credit Eligible?	Additional Benefits
Impact Windows	Yes (Level A)	Always-on protection, noise reduction, UV filtering, energy savings
Hurricane Screens	Yes (Level A when FL approved)	Visibility during storms, covers large openings, lightweight
Accordion Shutters	Yes (Level A)	Quick deployment, permanent mount, durable
Storm Panels	Yes (Level A when FL approved)	Code-compliant protection with straightforward deployment and storage
Plywood	No	Temporary only; no insurance benefit

For homeowners focused primarily on potentially maximizing their insurance discount, Hurricane Screens or Storm Panels may offer a faster payback period. For homeowners who also value year-round convenience, noise reduction, and energy efficiency, impact windows provide the broadest set of benefits beyond just the insurance credit.

Related Questions About Hurricane Protection and Insurance

• Do Hurricane Shutters Lower Insurance? – How shutters and screens qualify for the same wind mitigation credits.
• Are Hurricane Shutters Worth the Cost? – Full ROI analysis including insurance savings over time.
• Do I Need Impact Windows If I Have Hurricane Shutters? – When each option makes sense and whether to combine them.
• Can Impact Windows Withstand Category 5? – Wind speed ratings and what impact windows are tested for.