A step-by-step guide to the My Safe Florida Home Program

If you want to get a free inspection?

1. You are eligible to apply if you live in a single-family detached, site-built home.

2. In order for us to provide information about potential insurance discounts in your inspection report please have your insurance policy on hand.

We will ask you for the amount of your dwelling coverage (Coverage A), hurricane premium and hurricane deductible, as listed on your Homeowners Insurance Declarations page.

Click here to see where you can find this information in your insurance policy.

3. Click here to apply for a free wind inspection or call us at 1-866-513-6734.

4. Whether online or by phone, if you supply us with an email address, you will receive an email notification and an application number starting with MSFH.

Applicants applying by phone will be provided with their MSFH # after their application has been submitted.

5. Please refer to your MSFH# when you contact the My Safe Florida Home program by phone, email or written correspondence so we can provide the best possible service.

6. You will be contacted by an approved inspection firm or inspector within two to three weeks BY PHONE to schedule your free inspection.

Click here for a list of approved inspection firms.

Click here for a list of approved inspectors.


If you have applied for a free wind inspection?

1. Once you’ve applied, an approved inspection firm or inspector will contact you BY PHONE within two to three weeks to schedule your inspection.

Click here for a list of approved inspection firms.

Click here for a list of approved inspectors.

2. Before the inspector arrives, gather any documents you have on your opening protections (such as shutters, impact resistant windows or garage door). If you have put on a new roof in the last five years, gather this information as well.

Please have these documents available for review by the inspector.

NOTE: The inspector will be looking for the type of opening protection or new roof installed and the date this work was done. If your documentation does not include this information the inspector will be looking at your shutters or roof shingles to try and determine a rating and/or building code approval number.

  • This information is important because it may help you qualify for insurance discounts or credits.

  • If documentation is not provided, the inspector may not be able to confirm that you have hurricane-rated opening protection or roof covering.

3. When the inspector arrives, the inspection will last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. For a thorough inspection, the inspector will need access to your attic. Please make sure this area is accessible. The inspector may also take photos of your home during the inspection.

4. Before the inspector leaves, you will be asked to sign a form verifying an inspection was conducted. The inspector will also leave general information with you about the inspection.

5. You can expect to receive your free inspection report in approximately 45 days after the program receives the inspection results from your inspector. To get the most out of your inspection report, read the User’s Guide that comes with it.


If you want to apply for a grant?

Receiving an inspection does not guarantee that you will be approved for a grant. Applying for a grant is a separate process from applying for a free wind inspection. There are different eligibility requirements associated with the grant application.

To be eligible:
1. You must first undergo a free inspection and receive your inspection report in order to apply for a grant.

2. Your inspection report must recommend that your openings (windows, doors and garage door) be protected or your roof’s gable ends should be braced.

3. Your home must be located in the “wind-borne debris region.” Click here to view maps.

NOTE: When you apply for a grant, the application system will let you know if you are in the wind-borne debris region.

4. Your home must be insured for $300,000 or less (Coverage A or Dwelling Coverage) and have a valid homestead exemption. Proof of insured value and homestead must be submitted with your grant application.

5. If you want to apply as a low-income homeowner, you must meet specific income requirements. Click here to see if you’re eligible.

You must provide proof of income and proof of a valid homestead exemption.

NOTE: This is a reimbursement grant. Funds are only disbursed once the work on your home is completed.

6. If your home was built in 2002, you will need to provide proof that the application for initial construction is dated prior to March 1, 2002.

7. Once you’ve determined if you are eligible and have gathered the appropriate documents, you are ready to start the grant application process.

8. You can apply for a grant online or by phone at 866-513-6734.

9. If you can submit the required documentation electronically with your online grant application, you will be notified of your grant status within 30 days.

10. If you must mail in the required documentation, print out the grant summary page provided at the end of the application and mail all required documents to:

My Safe Florida Home
Grant Application
P.O. Box 7300
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-7300

Once we receive your documents, you can expect to be notified of your grant status within 30 days.

11. If you applied over the phone, a summary of your grant application will be automatically mailed to you. Send the required documentation to the address above and listed on the grant summary page.

The My Safe Florida Home program is a first-come, first-served program. At the rate at which homeowners are applying for grants, it is estimated that the My Safe Florida Home program may stop taking grant applications by May 1, 2008. Remaining funds will be used to meet the program’s statutory goal of 400,000 inspections.


After you applied for a grant, what can you expect?

1. Once the required documentation is received, you will be notified within 30 days if your grant application:

a. has been approved.
b. is deficient and what documents we need to complete the review process.
c. has been denied and why it was denied.

NOTE: If you applied as a non-low income homeowner and are approved for a matching grant, you will be reimbursed for half of the actual costs to make the improvement up to $5,000. Grant funds can only be used for opening protections and bracing gable ends.

If you applied as a low-income homeowner and are approved no match is required. You will be reimbursed 100% of actual costs up to $5,000 once the work on your home is completed. Remember, grant funds can only be used for opening protections and bracing gable ends.

2. You must use a participating contractor from our participating contractor list in order to be reimbursed under this program.

Click here for a list of participating contractors.

3. Make sure your contractor is registered in your county to pull permtis to do mitigation improvements.

4. You are encouraged to obtain an estimate from one or more of our participating contractors.

NOTE: You do not need to submit copies of your contractor bid sheets or estimates. The bid sheets in your inspection report are for your use only.

You are also encouraged to research the product(s) you are interested in purchasing to protect your home to make sure they are hurricane or impact rated and approved by your local building code.

To learn more about the product(s) you are considering, visit the Florida Building Commission’s website at http://www.floridabuilding.org/c/default.aspx

5. Please remember that grant funds are only guaranteed once you have been approved for a grant by the department.

If you’ve completed the work and are seeking reimbursement:

1. The reimbursement forms sent to you with your grant approval letter must be completed, signed and returned.

The HOMEOWNER REIMBURSEMENT FORM will need to be filled out by you, the homeowner. You must provide the following information on this form:

  • Amount charged by the contractor

  • Amount you paid the contractor

  • Your signature

  • Your Social Security number

The CONTRACTOR VERIFICATION FORM(S) will need to be filled out by the participating contractor(s). The Contractor(s) must complete the form, including a breakdown of labor and material costs, to ensure your reimbursement is processed quickly.

  • Total job cost charged to the homeowner (for each type of improvement)

  • Participating Contractor’s Name

  • Business Name

  • Participating Contractor’s Signature

  • Participating Contractor Number

  • Date Work Completed

  • For Opening Protections

    • Number of windows and/or doors and square footage protected

    • A Diagram or Cut Sheet detailing what was protected

    Click here to see sample diagram sheets or obtain a blank one for the contractor to fill out

    • Number of labor hours

    • Labor Costs Material Costs

    • Other Costs (such as permit costs if applicable)

  • For Bracing Gable Ends

    • Material Type

    • Material Number

    • Number of Labor Hours

    • Labor Costs

    • Material costs

    • Other costs (such as permit costs if applicable)

2. Again, if you are seeking reimbursement for opening protections, please be sure to include a diagram or cut sheet indicating which windows or doors were protected along with your reimbursement forms.

Click here to see sample diagram sheets or obtain a blank one for the contractor to fill out.

3. Once the required forms are COMPLETELY filled out, submit the forms and any receipts you have to:

My Safe Florida Home
Reimbursement Request
PO Box 8200
Tallahassee, FL 32314-8200

Note: You should keep a copy of all documentation submitted to the My Safe Florida Home program.

4. If the forms you’ve submitted are complete, you should expect to receive your reimbursement check within 6 to 8 weeks.

You’ve submitted a reimbursement request, what can you expect?

1. Once we receive your reimbursement request and it is complete, we will send you an email confirmation or mail a postcard confirming it has been received and is being processed.

2. If the forms you’ve submitted are complete, you should expect to receive your reimbursement check within 90 days.

3. If the forms are incomplete, we will contact you to let you know what information is missing.

  • We may ask you to email, fax or mail us additional documentation.

  • We may ask you to provide photos of the work completed on your home.

  • If your contractor did not complete the form, we will contact your contractor directly to obtain the necessary information.

  • Incomplete reimbursement requests will remain “pending” until all necessary documentation is received.

4. Florida law requires us to re-inspect at least 5 percent of all homes retrofitted with grant funds. Please be aware that your home may be selected for a re-inspection.

5. If you have any questions concerning any of the information that has been provided, please contact the My Safe Florida Home helpline by calling 866-513-6734. We have specialists who are happy to assist you with your questions Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.