Available Discounts
A stronger home can mean a lower windstorm premium.
Florida requires insurers to offer premium discounts for features that help protect your home from hurricane winds. Here’s how wind mitigation discounts work on your Orange Insurance policy — and how to make sure you’re getting the credits you qualify for.
Good to know
- Discounts apply to the hurricane-wind portion of your premium only.
- A wind mitigation inspection by a qualified inspector is required to verify features.
- Discount amounts vary by policy and are not added together.
Understanding your premium
Four factors that shape what you pay
Your policy premium has two parts: one for damage caused by hurricane-force winds (hurricane-wind) and one for all other covered damage, such as fire (all perils).
Your location
Homes closer to the coast are more vulnerable to hurricane winds, so their hurricane-wind premium is typically higher than for similar homes elsewhere in the state.
Your policy
Your premium is split into a hurricane-wind premium and an all-perils premium. Wind mitigation discounts reduce the hurricane-wind portion.
Your deductible
Depending on your home’s value, you may choose a $500, 2%, 5% or 10% hurricane deductible. A higher deductible lowers your hurricane-wind premium but raises your out-of-pocket cost after a hurricane claim.
Improvements to your home
Securing your roof and protecting your windows from flying debris are the two most cost-effective ways to safeguard your home — and they can earn discounts on your hurricane-wind premium.
Wind mitigation features
Features that can earn a discount
The features that count depend on when your home was built. Choose your home’s construction era below. Discount amounts vary by policy — your agent can tell you what applies to yours.
Roof covering
Shingles, tiles or other roofing material.
- Meets the Florida Building Code.
- Reinforced concrete roof deck. If your home has this feature, you most likely will not qualify for any other discount.
How your roof deck is attached
Nail size and spacing that fasten the plywood roof deck.
- 2" nails spaced 6" at the plywood edge and 12" in the field.
- 2½" nails spaced 6" at the edge and 12" in the field.
- 2½" nails spaced 6" at the edge and 6" in the field.
Roof-to-wall connection
How the roof framing is tied to the walls.
- Toe nails — three nails driven at an angle through the rafter into the top plate.
- Clips — metal pieces nailed into the side of the rafter/truss and the top plate or wall stud.
- Single wraps — a single strap attached to the top plate and nailed to the rafter/truss.
- Double wraps — straps attached to the top plate and nailed to the rafter/truss.
Roof shape
The overall geometry of your roof.
- Hip roof — slopes down to meet all outside walls, like a pyramid.
- Other roof shapes.
Secondary water resistance
A protective layer between the shingles and the plywood underneath that protects the building if shingles blow off.
- SWR installed.
- No SWR.
Shutters
Protection for windows and openings against flying debris.
- None.
- Intermediate type — strong enough to meet half the old Miami-Dade building code standards.
- Hurricane protection type — strong enough to meet current Miami-Dade building code standards.
68%
Minimum discount
Homes built under the 2001 Florida Building Code or a later edition — including homes in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties built under the 1994 South Florida Building Code — are eligible for a minimum 68% discount on the hurricane-wind portion of the premium. You may be eligible for a greater discount if other mitigation features are installed.
Shutters
- None.
- Intermediate type — strong enough to meet half the old Miami-Dade building code standards.
- Hurricane protection type — strong enough to meet current Miami-Dade building code standards.
Roof shape
- Hip roof — slopes down to meet all outside walls, like a pyramid.
- Other roof shapes.
Your total discount is not the sum of individual discounts. A maximum discount applies, so as one discount is applied, others may be reduced until that maximum is reached.
Wind mitigation credits apply to the portion of your premium that covers the peril of wind, whether or not a hurricane exists.
How to qualify
Three steps to your wind mitigation credits
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Get a wind mitigation inspection
A qualified inspector reviews your home to identify mitigation features and verify improvements. Qualified inspectors include licensed general, building or residential contractors; licensed professional engineers or architects; and certified building code inspectors.
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Share the report with your agent
Your independent agent can submit the inspection to Orange Insurance and can also help you find inspectors who meet the state’s qualifications.
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Credits applied to your premium
Verified features are reflected as discounts on the hurricane-wind portion of your premium. Amounts vary by policy.
Planning improvements? Costs vary by project. Contact a licensed contractor for an estimate — you can look up certified contractors through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Visit MyFloridaLicense.com (opens in a new tab)Another option: reduce your hurricane deductible
Regardless of the year your home was built, if it meets the minimum fixture and construction requirements of the 2001 Florida Building Code, you have the option to reduce your hurricane-wind deductible. Ask your agent whether this option makes sense for you.
Questions about your discounts?
Your independent agent is your best source of advice on construction features and the discounts available on your policy.
This page summarizes the Notice of Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation for personal residential policies. Discount amounts vary by policy and are subject to verification by a qualified inspection. Your policy documents govern coverage, terms and premium.