Hurricane Shutters and Florida Insurance Discounts
Posted by Michael Joiner on
Can Hurricane Shutters Lower Your Homeowners Insurance in Florida?
Insurance: Discounts and documentation requirements vary by insurer, policy, property and inspection. Ask the insurer and a qualified wind-mitigation professional what is required before purchasing a product for a potential credit.
How Florida's Wind Mitigation Inspection Works
Florida law requires insurance companies to offer discounts to homeowners who have specific wind-resistant features on their homes. To qualify, you need a Wind Mitigation Inspection performed by a licensed inspector. This inspection evaluates several features of your home's construction, including roof shape, roof-to-wall connections, roof covering, secondary water resistance, and , critically , opening protection.
Opening protection refers to how your windows, doors, and other openings are protected against wind-borne debris during a hurricane. This is where hurricane shutters come in. Homes with approved opening protection on all windows and doors can receive significant premium reductions.
What Qualifies as Approved Opening Protection?
Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance (NOA). This is the gold standard for hurricane product approval in Florida. Products with a Miami-Dade NOA have been tested to some of the most stringent impact and wind-load standards in the country.
Florida Building Code (FBC) approval. Products approved under the Florida Building Code's High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) or non-HVHZ standards also qualify.
The key requirement is that your shutters must have documented product approval , not just be "hurricane rated" or "storm resistant." Your wind mitigation inspector will need to verify the product approval numbers, so it's important to keep documentation from your shutter purchase and installation.
Which Hurricane Shutter Types Qualify?
Product approvals: Impact ratings and approval coverage depend on the exact product, configuration, dimensions, fasteners, substrate and installation. Confirm the current approval documents for the specific item before relying on it for hurricane protection. Decorative non-impact products are not substitutes for approved impact protection.
How Much Can You Save?
The actual savings vary based on your insurance carrier, your home's location, the age and construction of your home, and other wind mitigation factors. However, Florida homeowners with full opening protection typically see premium reductions ranging from several hundred to over a thousand dollars per year. Over time, these annual savings can offset a significant portion , or even all , of the cost of your hurricane shutters. When you combine the insurance savings with the protection value and the potential increase in property value, hurricane shutters become one of the smartest investments a Florida homeowner can make.
The Wind Mitigation Inspection Process
Find a qualified inspector. Wind mitigation inspections must be performed by a licensed home inspector, general contractor, building code inspector, architect, or engineer.
Prepare your documentation. Have your shutter product approval documentation (NOA numbers or FBC approval numbers) ready for the inspector. If you purchased your shutters from Shutters By Empire, this documentation is provided with your order.
The inspection. The inspector will examine your home's roof, wall construction, roof-to-wall connections, and all opening protections. They'll document everything on the standard OIR-B1-1802 form.
Submit to your insurer. Provide the completed form to your insurance company. They'll apply the appropriate discounts to your policy.
Tips for Maximizing Your Insurance Savings
Cover every opening. Partial protection won't qualify you for the full discount. Make sure every window, door, and garage door has approved protection.
Keep your documentation. Save all product approval numbers, purchase receipts, and installation records.
Get re-inspected after upgrades. If you've added shutters since your last inspection, schedule a new one to capture additional discounts.
Shop your insurance. Once you have a wind mitigation report, share it with multiple carriers for better rates.
Combine with other improvements. Upgrading roof connections, installing a hip roof, or adding secondary water resistance can compound your savings.
Hurricane Shutters from Shutters By Empire: Insurance-Ready Protection
Call us at 1-888-474-3555 or email info@hurricaneshuttersflorida.com to discuss hurricane shutter options and insurance qualification for your home. Visit ShuttersByEmpire.com to browse our complete product line and request a quote.
Questions to answer before ordering hurricane shutters
A useful quote starts with more than a product name. Record the rough opening width and height, the surrounding mounting surface, wall material, nearby obstructions and how the opening is used. Photos can help the office understand conditions that measurements alone do not show.
- Which shutter family best matches the opening, budget and desired deployment method?
- What approval documents, permits and installation details apply at the project address?
- Who will install the product, and how will freight and site access be handled?
Compare current examples in the hurricane shutters collection. For custom dimensions, enter your opening measurements in the custom quote tool. The office will review measurements, colors, hardware, changes, shipping and the final total with you before payment.