If you've been waiting on a hurricane mitigation grant in Florida, the wait may finally be over. Florida lawmakers just unlocked $405 million in fresh funding for hurricane mitigation projects statewide — and the ripple effects reach nearly every homeowner from Clearwater to the Keys.

Here's what changed, who qualifies, and how one inspection can turn into real, lasting savings.

• $405 million reappropriated for hurricane mitigation grants and the condo pilot program
• Aimed at clearing a backlog of ~45,000 homeowners who inspected but never got paid
• A new 3-year sales tax exemption on impact windows and doors
• $600 million+ proposed for the 2026–27 cycle on top of that
• Grants still max out at $10,000 per home through My Safe Florida Home
• Everything starts with a free wind mitigation inspection

Florida's storm-hardening strategy took a major leap forward over Memorial Day weekend 2026, when the Legislature finalized a $115 billion state budget.

Tucked inside it: a reappropriation of more than $405 million, split between the My Safe Florida Home program and the My Safe Florida Condo Pilot. Both are administered by the Florida Department of Financial Services under Florida Statute §215.5586.

This wasn't new spending. It was unspent hurricane mitigation funding from prior cycles, rolled forward to clear a backlog of roughly 45,000 homeowners who completed a free wind mitigation inspection but never received the grant they earned.

If you completed a wind mitigation inspection in an earlier cycle and were told the money ran out, this update is aimed at you. The reappropriated funds are earmarked to pay out grants already earned but stuck in limbo.

Priority order:

1. Homeowners 60 and older
2. Low-income applicants
3. Moderate-income applicants

The same budget deal included a separate $150 million tax-relief package: a three-year sales tax exemption on impact windows and doors.

That means Florida homeowners investing in storm-hardening upgrades — grant or no grant — now pay less out of pocket for the exact products insurers reward most.

1. Free inspection. A state-assigned inspector evaluates your roof, openings, and structural connections.
2. Matching grant. If upgrades are recommended, the state matches what you spend, up to $10,000.

• Single-family, site-built home with a homestead exemption
• Building permit issued before January 1, 2008
• Insured value under the program's current cap (recently near $700,000, though this figure shifts by budget cycle)
• Active windstorm insurance coverage

• Opening protection — impact windows, impact doors, hurricane shutters, impact-rated garage doors
• Roof improvements — re-roofing, secondary water resistance
• Roof-to-wall connections — clips and wraps that keep your roof attached in high winds

You can't apply for a grant — and you can't claim a wind mitigation insurance discount — without a documented inspection first.

That inspection is recorded on Florida's official OIR-B1-1802 form, the same form every Florida insurance carrier uses to apply hurricane mitigation credits to your policy. Our wind mitigation inspection service produces this exact report, accepted by all major Florida insurers.

Even homeowners who never touch the grant program benefit from this step alone:

• Hurricane-portion premium savings of hundreds of dollars a year, sometimes over $1,000
• Average reported annual savings around $900 once storm-hardening features are verified

If your home was built before 2002, a 4-point insurance inspection may also be required by your insurer before they'll write or renew your policy — making it smart to schedule both at the same time.

That's where Paradise Point Home Inspections comes in. Serving Clearwater and the surrounding Pinellas County area, Paradise Point performs the wind mitigation and 4-point inspections that unlock these savings — with same-day reports and appointments available seven days a week.

Whether you're in Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg, Dunedin, or Seminole, we're your local inspector for everything the My Safe Florida Home program requires.

Is the My Safe Florida Home grant still open in 2026? Yes. The program remains active, with the 2026–27 budget cycle proposing over $600 million in continued funding on top of the $405 million reappropriation.

Do I need an inspection before applying for a grant? Yes. The free wind mitigation inspection is the required first step. Without it, you can't document eligible improvements or apply for matching funds.

Can an inspection lower my insurance without any upgrades? Yes. If your home already has hurricane-resistant features — a hip roof, reinforced roof-to-wall connections — the inspection alone can qualify you for discounts.

How much can I actually save? Eligible homeowners can receive up to $10,000 in matching grant funds, and impact window purchases now also qualify for a three-year sales tax exemption.

What if I'm stuck in the backlog? The newly reappropriated $405 million is meant to clear exactly this backlog. If you completed your inspection but never got your grant, check your status on the official program portal.

Florida's hurricane mitigation landscape is shifting fast, and homeowners who act early tend to benefit most. Whether you're chasing a grant, an insurance discount, or peace of mind before the next storm, it starts with one inspection.

Contact Paradise Point Home Inspections in Clearwater to schedule your wind mitigation inspection today.