If you’re a Florida homeowner looking to strengthen your home against hurricanes while potentially saving thousands on insurance premiums, the My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program deserves your attention. This state-funded initiative provides free wind mitigation inspections and matching grants up to $10,000 to help you fortify your home—and the current funding cycle still has money available.
Here’s everything Central Florida homeowners need to know about taking advantage of this program.
What Is the My Safe Florida Home Program?
My Safe Florida Home is a state initiative administered by the Florida Department of Financial Services that helps homeowners prepare for hurricane season through two primary benefits:
Free Wind Mitigation Inspections: A qualified inspector evaluates your home’s ability to withstand hurricane-force winds at no cost to you. They examine critical components like roof-to-wall connections, roof deck attachments, roof covering, opening protection (windows and doors), and secondary water resistance. The resulting report serves as your roadmap for improvements and can immediately qualify you for insurance discounts.
Matching Grants for Home Hardening: After your inspection, you may qualify for grant funding that matches your investment at a 2-to-1 ratio. For every dollar you spend on approved improvements, the state contributes two dollars, up to a maximum grant of $10,000. That means a $5,000 investment from you could fund a $15,000 project.
The program was originally launched in 2006 but went dormant for over a decade before being revived in 2022 in response to Florida’s insurance crisis. The Florida Legislature has allocated $280 million for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, with an additional $180 million appropriated to ensure continued funding.
Am I Eligible?
Eligibility requirements differ slightly for inspections versus grants.
For Free Inspections
Most Florida homeowners qualify for the free inspection. Your home must be a site-built, single-family detached residence or a townhouse (maximum three stories). Manufactured homes, condominiums, and multi-family properties don’t qualify. You must have a homestead exemption on the property.
For Matching Grants
Grant eligibility has additional requirements. Your home must have received an inspection through the program. The property’s insured value must be $700,000 or less (low-income homeowners are exempt from this cap). The building permit for your home’s original construction must have been issued before January 1, 2008. You must provide the name and license number of the contractor performing the work. You must make the home available for a final inspection after the project is complete.
Priority Groups
Because demand exceeds available funding, the Legislature has established priority groups. Group 1 includes low-income homeowners age 60 and older—those with household income at or below 80% of the county median income. Group 2 covers low-income homeowners under 60. Group 3 includes moderate-income homeowners age 60 and older—those with household income below 120% of the county median income. Group 4 covers moderate-income homeowners under 60.
Grant applications are processed by priority group, with each group opening approximately two weeks after the previous one. If you’re in Groups 1 or 2, you’ll have the first opportunities to apply when new funding becomes available.
What Improvements Qualify for Grant Funding?
When recommended by your wind mitigation inspection, grants can fund improvements in several categories.
Roof System Upgrades: This includes reinforcing roof-to-wall connections, upgrading roof deck attachments, installing secondary water resistance barriers, and replacing roof coverings with wind-rated materials.
Opening Protection: Impact-resistant windows and doors, hurricane shutters, and garage door reinforcement all qualify.
Other Structural Improvements: Gable-end bracing and other wind resistance improvements recommended by your inspection may also be covered.
The key requirement is that improvements must be recommended in your inspection report. You can’t simply choose any upgrade—the grant is specifically designed to address vulnerabilities identified during your inspection.
How to Apply: The Two-Step Process
The application process is straightforward but must be completed in order.
Step 1: Request Your Free Inspection
Visit MySafeFLHome.com and create an account. Complete the Group Prioritization Questionnaire—this determines which priority group you fall into and is required before moving forward. Submit your request for a free wind mitigation inspection. An approved inspector will contact you to schedule the appointment. After the inspection, you’ll receive a detailed report showing your home’s current hurricane-resistant features and recommended improvements.
Step 2: Apply for Grant Funding
Once you have your inspection report, you can apply for a matching grant through your portal account. The program will email you when your grant application window opens based on your priority group. Select a licensed contractor to perform the recommended work (getting at least three bids is recommended). Submit your application with contractor information. Upon approval, complete the improvements and schedule your final inspection.
Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis within each priority group, so apply promptly when your window opens.
The Insurance Savings Opportunity
Beyond the immediate benefit of grant funding, the My Safe Florida Home program can lead to significant long-term savings on your homeowners insurance.
Florida law requires insurance companies to provide discounts for wind mitigation features. Your inspection report documents exactly which features your home has—and after completing improvements, those new features must be reflected in your premiums. Depending on your home’s current condition and the improvements you make, savings on the hurricane portion of your premium can be substantial.
Even if you don’t qualify for grant funding or choose not to pursue it, the free inspection alone is valuable. Many homeowners discover their homes already have features that qualify for discounts they’re not currently receiving. Sharing your inspection report with your insurance carrier ensures you’re getting every discount you’re entitled to.
Tips for Central Florida Homeowners
Having worked with hundreds of homeowners on storm damage repairs and roof replacements throughout Orange, Seminole, and surrounding counties, we’ve seen firsthand how proper wind mitigation makes a difference—both in protecting homes and in keeping insurance affordable. Here are a few practical tips:
Don’t wait for hurricane season. Contractors get busy as storms approach. Starting the process now gives you time to get your inspection, compare bids, and complete work before the June 1 start of hurricane season.
Understand what your inspection reveals. The report can be technical. If you’re unsure what the findings mean or which improvements make the most sense for your situation, a knowledgeable contractor can help you interpret the recommendations.
Keep your inspection report. This document has value beyond the grant program. You’ll use it when shopping for insurance or filing claims. Keep it with your important home documents.
Choose a licensed contractor. The program requires you to use a contractor licensed with the State of Florida. This isn’t just a bureaucratic requirement—it protects you. Unlicensed work can void your insurance coverage and create liability issues.
Follow through with your insurance carrier. After completing improvements, make sure your insurer knows about them. The discounts aren’t automatic—you need to provide documentation.
How Orange Contracting Can Help
If your inspection recommends roof system upgrades—roof-to-wall connections, deck attachment improvements, secondary water resistance, or a complete roof replacement—that’s where we come in. As a licensed general contractor with deep experience in Florida’s insurance restoration process, we understand both the construction requirements and the documentation needs that make grant-funded projects successful.
We can help you interpret your inspection findings, develop a scope of work that addresses the recommendations, provide a competitive bid, complete the work to code, and ensure you have the documentation needed for your final inspection and insurance discounts.
Whether you’re pursuing the My Safe Florida Home program or simply want to strengthen your roof before the next storm, we’re here to help Central Florida homeowners protect their most valuable investment.
Ready to get started? Visit MySafeFLHome.com to create your account and request your free inspection. If your inspection recommends roofing improvements and you’d like a professional assessment or bid, contact us to discuss your options.