My Safe Florida Home Program: Storm Smart is an Authorized Contractor

The My Safe Florida Home Program is a state-funded initiative that provides eligible Florida homeowners with free wind mitigation inspections and matching grants up to $10,000 to strengthen their homes against hurricanes. The program covers improvements like impact windows, hurricane shutters, roof reinforcement, and secondary water resistance barriers. For every $1 a homeowner invests in eligible improvements, the state contributes $2, up to the $10,000 maximum. To learn more, click here.

Yes, Storm Smart is an authorized contractor with the My Safe Florida Home Program. Our hurricane protection products meet the program’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) rating and wind mitigation certification requirements. This means homeowners can use their My Safe Florida Home grant to pay for qualifying Storm Smart installations, including impact windows, hurricane shutters, and Storm Catcher screens. To learn more, click here.

Storm Smart’s wind mitigation products qualify for My Safe Florida Home grant funding when recommended in your program inspection report. Eligible products include Storm Catcher Roll Down Screens, Smart View and PGT impact windows and doors, rolling shutters, accordion shutters, Bahama shutters, Colonial shutters, and storm panels. Note that our Flood Smart flood protection panels are not currently covered, as flood mitigation is pending state certification. To learn more, click here.

Standard grant recipients can receive up to $10,000 from the state through the My Safe Florida Home matching grant. The program matches $2 for every $1 you invest. For example, on a $15,000 project, you would pay $5,000 and receive $10,000 back. Low-income homeowners (those earning 80% or less of their county’s median income) may qualify for up to $10,000 without the matching requirement. To learn more, click here.

To qualify for a My Safe Florida Home grant, you must own a single-family detached home or townhouse in Florida with a homestead exemption. The home must have an insured value of $700,000 or less (low-income homeowners are exempt from this requirement), and the building permit must have been issued before January 1, 2008. You must have homeowners insurance and complete a free program inspection. For 2025-2026, the program prioritizes low-income and moderate-income households. To learn more, click here.

To apply for My Safe Florida Home, visit mysafeflhome.com and create an account. First, apply for a free wind mitigation inspection – this is required before you can apply for a grant. After your inspection, you’ll receive a report recommending specific improvements. If you meet the income eligibility requirements, you can then submit a grant application through the program portal. Important: Do not begin any work until your grant is approved, as work completed before approval is not eligible for reimbursement. To learn more, click here.

No, Storm Smart does not process My Safe Florida Home applications. The grant application and approval process is managed entirely through the state program at mysafeflhome.com. Homeowners are responsible for applying, qualifying, and managing their grant. As an authorized contractor, Storm Smart can guide you toward the right resources and install your approved improvements, but we cannot submit applications on your behalf or guarantee grant approval. To learn more, click here.

Currently, the My Safe Florida Home Program covers only wind mitigation improvements – not flood protection. Storm Smart’s Flood Smart panels are not eligible for grant funding at this time. However, the state is working on certification for flood mitigation products, and this may change in the future. The program currently funds opening protection (impact windows, doors, shutters), roof improvements, roof-to-wall connections, and secondary water resistance barriers. To learn more, click here.

Besides My Safe Florida Home, some Florida counties and municipalities offer their own hurricane hardening assistance programs. However, Storm Smart does not have formal partnerships with these local programs. County-level programs typically have limited availability and are often restricted to homestead homeowners. For information about local programs in your area, contact your county’s emergency management office or building department. To learn more, click here.

Yes, hurricane mitigation improvements can lower your homeowners insurance premiums. Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for verified wind-loss reduction features. According to the My Safe Florida Home program, homeowners who completed improvements and disclosed their discounts reported an average savings of over $900 per year on their insurance premiums. The actual discount you receive depends on your specific improvements and your insurance carrier. To learn more, click here.

The complete My Safe Florida Home process typically takes 6-12 months from initial application to reimbursement. This includes time for scheduling your free inspection, receiving your report, applying for the grant, awaiting approval, completing your installation, passing the final inspection, and receiving your reimbursement. Timelines can vary based on program demand, contractor availability, and inspection backlogs. The program recommends checking your account status regularly and responding promptly to any requests. To learn more, click here.

Generally, no. The My Safe Florida Home Program is designed to add protection to vulnerable areas, not replace one compliant protection method with another. If you already have code-compliant hurricane shutters, the grant typically won’t fund their replacement with impact windows. The program funds improvements for openings that have inadequate or no protection. Only upgrades specifically recommended in your inspection report are eligible for funding. To learn more, click here.