Countdown to 2023 Hurricane Season

Hey, Florida Homeowners!

Get Readier for hurricanes

With the My Safe Florida Home Program!

At this time, the My Safe Florida Home Program has temporarily stopped accepting new applications for our free home wind mitigation inspections until the new funding becomes available July 1st. On July 1st, we anticipate re-opening the portal in compliance with the Program’s new requirements. For now, we will continue to process existing inspection applications and grant reimbursement requests.

Thank you, CFO Patronis, Governor DeSantis and Florida Legislature, for your continued support of the program, we look forward to implementing the new legislation and funding the Legislature provided for the coming fiscal year.

My Safe Florida Home Videos

Get Home Strengthening

Improvements

When Recommended By Your Home Hurricane Inspection, Program Grant Money Has Been Made Available for the Following Strengthening Improvements:

Roofs & Structure

  • Reinforce Roof-to-Wall Connections
  • Install Secondary Water Resistance for the Roof
  • Upgrade Roof Covering
  • Improve the Strength of Roof Deck Attachments

Openings

  • Exterior Door Upgrades
  • Garage Door Upgrades
  • Window Upgrades

*TOWNHOUSES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ROOF IMPROVEMENTS

Get Purchase

& Insurance Savings

The Program was Created to Strengthen Florida Homes Against Hurricanes and Save Florida Homeowners Money.

  • You may be eligible to apply for a Matching grant where for every $1 you provide, the state will provide $2 toward the actual cost of an authorized mitigation project (or 2/3s of the project cost up to $10,000).
  • NO state sales tax (6%) on retail purchases of impact-resistant doors, impact-resistant garage doors and impact-resistant windows from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024.
  • Potentially lower your home insurance premiums by participating in the program.

Get Readier!

Program FAQs

Upcoming Law Changes July 1, 2024

Beginning July 1, 2024, the MSFH program will re-open our portal for homeowners.  New funding for the program will be tied to new prioritization requirements as enacted by the Legislature. Applications will be accepted and prioritized in 15-day increments.

  • Low-income homeowners age 60+ – July 1 – July 15th
  • Low-income homeowners of any age – July 16th – 30th
  • Moderate-income homeowners age 60+ – July 31st – August 14th
  • Moderate-income homeowners of any age – August 15th – 29th
  • All other eligible Florida homeowners – August 31st

Once all funds are awarded, the portal will close and will not accept any additional applications until additional funding is provided.

If I am already approved for a grant do the changes coming July 1 affect me?

No, if you have received notification that your grant application was approved and you were directed to obtain a contractor, you may continue to proceed with your project.

If I received my initial inspection but was unable to submit a grant application before the portal closed, do the new rules effective July 1st apply to me?

Yes, all grant applications submitted after July 1st must be prioritized as outlined above in the FAQ entitled “Upcoming law changes July 1, 2024”.

I have had a home inspection, but I can’t complete my grant application, what happens now?

On July 1st, the portal will be re-opened with new prioritization criteria, see question above, “Upcoming law changes July 1, 2024.”

If I have submitted a grant application, can I begin construction on my home while awaiting additional grant funds to be available?

At this time, the Program can only authorize grant payments to homeowners who were approved for the grant prior to construction commencing.

Is there any guarantee that new grant funds will be available?

No, there is no guarantee. The MSFH Program is optimistic that the overwhelmingly positive response to the program will be an incentive for new funds to be made available.

What is the My Safe Florida Home Program?

The My Safe Florida Home Program was re-enacted during the most recent Special Session of the Florida Legislature. The program consists of two primary components:

  1. Wind Mitigation Home Inspections (DFS anticipates between 140,000 and 145,000 initial home inspections.)  All owners of site-built, single-family, residential homes or townhouses are eligible to make application for a wind mitigation home inspection. This inspection will identify those elements of your home’s construction which could be improved to mitigate your home against future wind damages. All inspections will be provided to eligible homeowners free of charge by the State. Applications will be reviewed and approved in the order in which they are received until current funding is exhausted.
  2. Wind Mitigation Grant awards for home construction (DFS anticipates awarding between 11,000 and 12,000 grants based on current funding.)

Who is eligible to receive a hurricane mitigation inspection?

An owner of a site-built, single-family, residential house or townhouse may apply for and receive an inspection without any further obligation to apply for a grant.

How much can I receive through the grant process?

The Legislature has authorized DFS to provide a matching grant to eligible homeowners up to $10,000 for the actual cost of qualifying home hurricane mitigation projects. The program will provide $2 in grant funds for every $1 the homeowner provides.  Low income grants have been increased from $5,000 to $10,000.

What types of mitigation projects will be considered for homeowners?

When recommended by a hurricane mitigation inspection, grants may be used for the following improvements:

ROOFS AND STRUCTURES

  • Improve Strength of Roof Deck Attachments
  • Reinforce Roof-to-Wall Connections
  • Install Secondary Water Barrier for the Roof
  • Townhouses are now eligible of opening protections (doors and windows) but are not eligible for roof repairs

OPENINGS

  • Exterior Door Upgrades
  • Garage Door Upgrades
  • Window Upgrades

Are there any other incentives to offset cost for mitigation?

Yes, the Legislature has also provided tax exemptions for home-hardening initiatives. Please click here for additional information on tax breaks. Beginning July 1, 2022, until June 30, 2024, sales tax is exempt on purchases of impact-resistant doors, impact-resistant garage doors, and impact-resistant windows.

Can I use my own inspector?

No. Once you have applied and been approved for your free wind-mitigation inspection, a licensed inspector will be assigned to you to complete the inspection of your home.

Can I choose my own contractor to complete the work on my house?

The Department of Financial Services will provide a list of contractors that have agreed to participate in the program. Applicants will be provided with that list of approved contractors to select from after they have been approved for their Grant.

What happens after I receive my inspection?

Your inspection report is uploaded in the system.  Once reviewed and processed, you receive an email notification that you can now go back to your inspection account to open and submit your grant application if you choose.

How do I calculate my reimbursement amount?

According to Florida Statute 215.5586, 2(b), “All grants must be matched on the basis of $1 provided by the applicant for $2 provided by the state up to a maximum state contribution of $10,000 toward the actual cost of the mitigation project.” In other words, the homeowner must contribute funds equal to 1/3 of the cost of the project toward the project to be reimbursed for the remaining 2/3’s up to a maximum state contribution of $10,000.

For example, if an applicant were to pay $15,000 for new impact-rated windows, their required contribution would be $5,000, and the state’s contribution would be equal to the maximum grant amount of $10,000. If the windows cost $9,000, the applicant would pay $3,000 and would receive a state-matched Reimbursement of $6,000. If the windows cost more than $15,000, the applicant would still only receive $10,000, as that is the maximum reimbursement amount.

Get Readier Resources

Program Information

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Homeowner's Guide

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Quick Guide

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Authorized Improvements Guide

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Grant Reimbursement Process

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Why is Retrofitting Older Homes Important?

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Understanding the 1802 Form

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Portal Terms

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Portal Reimbursement Terms

Program Resources

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Program Compliance

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