The Short Answer
My Safe Florida Home is a state program run by the Florida Department of Financial Services. It pays for a free wind mitigation inspection of your home, and if you qualify, a grant of up to $10,000 toward upgrades that help your home stand up to a hurricane. Those upgrades include roof work, impact windows and doors, and a stronger garage door. As of October 2026, the program is accepting applications at mysafeflhome.com, subject to available funding.
The inspection and the grant have different rules. Many more homeowners qualify for the free inspection than for the grant.
Who Qualifies for the Free Inspection
Under Florida law (section 215.5586, Florida Statutes), your home qualifies for the free inspection when all of these are true:
- You have a homestead exemption on the home.
- It is a single-family home, either detached or attached, and no more than three stories.
- It is site-built (not a mobile or manufactured home).
- You live in it.
Who Qualifies for a Grant
The grant has stricter rules. Your home must:
- Have had its free program inspection within the 24 months before you apply for the grant.
- Have been built before January 1, 2008, as shown on your county property appraiser's website.
- Have an insured value of $700,000 or less.
You must also be a low-income or moderate-income homeowner as defined in Florida law (section 420.0004). In plain terms, your household income must be below 120% of the median household income for your area, measured against your metro area (or county) or the whole state, whichever is higher. Low-income means at or below 80% of that median. This income rule is in the 2026 version of the law, so older articles that say any homeowner can get a grant are out of date.
How Much the Grant Pays
| Who | What the state pays | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Low-income homeowners | Up to $10,000 | Nothing required |
| Other eligible homeowners | $2 for every $1 you put in, up to $10,000 | $1 for every $2 from the state |
For example, a $9,000 project for a moderate-income homeowner would be paid $6,000 by the state and $3,000 by the homeowner.
What the Grant Pays For
The law limits grants to improvements that make a home harder for wind to damage:
- Roof-to-wall connections: stronger straps or clips that hold the roof to the walls.
- Roof deck attachment: better nailing of the plywood under your roof covering.
- Secondary water resistance with a new roof covering: a sealed layer under the roof that keeps water out if shingles or tiles blow off, installed along with a new roof.
- Opening protection: impact windows, exterior doors, garage doors and skylights.
Your inspection report lists which of these your home is missing. The grant can only pay for improvements the inspection recommends.
How the Process Works
- Create an account at mysafeflhome.com and answer the questionnaire. It places you in a priority group.
- Apply for the inspection. A program inspector visits and checks your roof, roof attachments and openings.
- Read your report. It lists the improvements that would make your home stronger and could lower your insurance bill.
- Apply for the grant if you are eligible, using the improvements from your report.
- Hire a licensed contractor and complete the work after the grant is approved, then pass a final inspection.
You also agree to share with the program the insurance discount you receive after the work is done.
Why It Matters for Your Insurance
Florida insurers are required by law to offer discounts for features that reduce wind damage (section 627.0629). Even if you do not qualify for a grant, the free inspection gives you a wind mitigation report you can send to your insurer. If your home already has features like hurricane straps or impact windows, that report alone can lower your premium. Our guide to wind mitigation inspections explains how those discounts work.
What to Ask a Roofer About a Grant Project
- Have you completed My Safe Florida Home projects before, and how did the final inspections go?
- Does your quote match the improvements listed in my inspection report?
- Will the new roof include secondary water resistance and upgraded deck nailing?
- Who handles the paperwork the program needs after the work is done?
If you need a roofer for grant work, start with the best-reviewed independent roofers in your city, or see who offers roof replacement near you.
Sources
- My Safe Florida Home, Florida Department of Financial Services
- Section 215.5586, Florida Statutes (2026): the program law
- Section 420.0004, Florida Statutes: income definitions
- Section 627.0629, Florida Statutes (2026): required insurance discounts
Facts checked against these sources on October 9, 2026. Program funding and application windows change; check mysafeflhome.com for the current status before you apply.
