My Safe Florida Home is the state program that offers free wind mitigation inspections and grants toward hurricane upgrades, including roof work. When we checked the program’s site on October 2, 2026, its homepage said grants and inspections were available. This guide explains who qualifies for the My Safe Florida Home grant, what roof work it covers, and how the process works, using only what the program itself publishes.
What is the My Safe Florida Home program?
My Safe Florida Home is a state program that helps homeowners strengthen their homes against hurricanes. It works in two stages: a free wind mitigation inspection first, then, for eligible homes, a grant toward upgrades the inspection recommends. Roof items it lists include roof-to-deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections and a secondary water barrier.
The program’s homepage describes free wind mitigation inspections and grant assistance for approved upgrades. The upgrades it names fall into roof improvements, impact windows and doors, garage door reinforcement and secondary water barrier installation.
The order matters. You cannot go straight to a grant: the grant page says the home must first have received an initial inspection through the program.
Does My Safe Florida Home still have grant money?
When we checked on October 2, 2026, the program’s homepage said grants and inspections were available, and its FAQ said the current appropriation funds 18,490 grants. Funding is set by the Legislature and can run out or change, so check the program’s own site on the day you apply rather than relying on any article.
The figure comes from the program’s FAQ, which states the appropriation in terms of the number of grants it funds. Applications are processed in priority groups, described below, so availability can differ depending on which group you fall into.
Who is eligible for the free inspection?
The free inspection is for owner-occupied, site-built single-family homes and townhouses with a homestead exemption. Condominiums, mobile and manufactured homes, multi-family buildings, second homes, vacation homes and rentals are not eligible. Those rules come from the program’s own eligibility page, checked on October 2, 2026.
As published on the program’s grant page, to apply for an inspection:
- Your home must be a single-family, detached residential property or a townhouse.
- It must be site-built and owner-occupied.
- You must have been granted a homestead exemption on the home.
Not eligible for an inspection:
- Multi-family homes, such as apartments, duplexes and triplexes
- Condominiums and cooperatives
- Retirement homes
- Mobile and manufactured homes
- Second homes, vacation homes and rental properties
The program treats single-family homes attached to other units as townhouses.
Who is eligible for a grant?
A grant has further conditions on top of the inspection rules. The home must have had the program’s initial inspection, must have an insured value of $700,000 or less unless the owner is low-income, and must have had its original building permit applied for before January 1, 2008. You must also name a licensed contractor.
The program’s grant page lists these requirements:
- Initial inspection first. The home must have received an initial inspection through the program.
- Insured value. The home must have an insured value of $700,000 or less, according to the program’s grant page, checked October 2, 2026. Low-income homeowners are exempt from this requirement.
- Older homes only. The building permit application for the home’s original construction must have been made before January 1, 2008.
- A named, licensed contractor. You must give the name and licence number of the contractor who will do the work. You can check any contractor’s licence on the state’s licence search.
- Final inspection. You must agree to make the home available for a final inspection once the work is complete.
The 2008 permit rule rules out any home whose original permit was applied for on or after that date. If your home was built more recently, you may still be eligible for the free inspection, which can help with insurance discounts on its own.
What is the income limit for My Safe Florida Home?
The program does not set one income limit for everyone. It prioritizes applications in tiers, putting low-income and moderate-income homeowners aged 60 and older first. It defines a low-income person as someone whose household income is at or below 80% of the median income for their county.
As published on the program’s grant page, all inspection and grant applications are processed using a tiered approach that the Florida Legislature set. The first group is low-income homeowners aged 60 and older. Because the limit is tied to your county’s median income, the dollar threshold differs by county. Check the program’s site for the figures that apply in Orange, Seminole, Osceola or Lake County.
How much does the My Safe Florida Home grant pay?
The program’s homepage advertises grants of up to $10,000, according to mysafeflhome.com, checked October 2, 2026. That is a maximum, not a guaranteed amount. The program also sets the share homeowners pay, and its terms differ for low-income homeowners. Confirm current terms on its site before you apply.
Two things are worth understanding before you plan a project around a grant:
- The grant pays toward approved upgrades. It funds improvements recommended by the program’s initial inspection, not any roof work you choose.
- Terms differ for low-income homeowners. The program’s pages describe how. Read them before you budget.
If you are comparing a grant-funded upgrade with a full re-roof, ask your contractor to price the eligible items separately, so you can see what the grant could apply to.
What roof work can the grant pay for?
The program lists three roof upgrades: strengthening roof-to-deck attachment, reinforcing roof-to-wall connections, and installing a secondary water barrier. These are also features Florida law ties to re-roofing and to insurance discounts. Which ones you can claim depends on your inspection.
| Roof upgrade | What it does | Where Florida law mentions it |
|---|---|---|
| Roof-to-deck attachment | Fastens the roof sheathing more securely to the frame | Section 553.844(2), a re-roofing retrofit priority |
| Roof-to-wall connections | Ties the roof structure to the walls with clips or straps | Section 553.844(2), with a cost test at re-roof |
| Secondary water barrier | A sealed layer that limits water entry if the covering is lost | Section 553.844(2), a re-roofing measure |
Under section 627.0629, insurers must offer discounts or credits for construction that reduces windstorm loss, including roof strength, roof covering performance and roof-to-wall strength. A grant-funded upgrade can therefore also affect your premium. Ask your insurer which features earn a credit on your policy.
Can I get my roof replaced for free in Florida?
Not through My Safe Florida Home. The program funds specific hurricane upgrades recommended by its inspection, not a free new roof. If your roof was damaged by a covered event, your homeowners insurance claim is the route for repair or replacement. Be wary of anyone advertising a “free roof” in exchange for an inspection or a claim.
Florida law directly addresses those offers. Under section 489.147, a contractor may not offer a gift, cash, a gift card or a deductible waiver in exchange for inspecting your roof or for you making an insurance claim. An offer of a free roof tied to an inspection or a claim is a warning sign.
What should Orlando homeowners check before applying?
Three records answer most of the eligibility questions before you fill in a form: your homestead exemption, the date your home’s original building permit was applied for, and your home’s insured value. All three can be checked from public records or your own policy, and doing so first saves a wasted application.
- Homestead exemption. The inspection requires one. In Orange County, the Property Appraiser’s parcel search is the place to look up a property’s records.
- Original permit date. A grant requires the original building permit application to predate January 1, 2008. Orange County’s permit records are searchable through Fast Track, and the City of Orlando explains its permit lookup, by address or parcel ID, on its permits and inspections page. The year a home was built is a rough guide, but the permit application date is what the rule names.
- Insured value. Your declarations page shows the dwelling coverage. The program’s limit was $700,000 when we checked on October 2, 2026, unless you qualify as low-income.
- Occupancy and type. The home must be your own, site-built, single-family home or townhouse, not a rental, second home, condominium or mobile home.
If any of these rules your home out of the grant, the free inspection may still be open to you, and its report can still be useful when you talk to your insurer.
How do you apply for the My Safe Florida Home program?
Apply through the program’s official site. The sequence is: check that your home is eligible, apply for the free initial inspection, receive the inspection report, then, if your home qualifies, apply for a grant naming a licensed contractor. The work is done and a final inspection confirms it.
- Check eligibility against the program’s published requirements for the inspection and the grant.
- Apply for the initial inspection on the program’s official site.
- Read the inspection report. It records your home’s wind-resistant features and recommends improvements.
- Apply for a grant if your home qualifies, naming a licensed contractor and their licence number.
- Have the work done by that contractor.
- Final inspection. The program inspects the completed work.
The program does not publish a fixed approval time on the pages we checked, and applications are processed by priority group. Keep copies of every document and the dates you submitted them.
Is the My Safe Florida Home program legit?
Yes. It is a state program whose priority rules are set by the Florida Legislature, and it runs through its own official site. The risk is not the program but people who claim to act for it. Apply directly, check any contractor’s licence, and be wary of anyone who asks for money to get you into the program.
Simple checks:
- Use the official site. Start at mysafeflhome.com rather than a link from an advertisement or a door-to-door visit.
- Check the contractor. Look up their licence on the state’s licence search. The program itself requires the contractor’s licence number.
- Watch for inducements. Offers of gifts or deductible waivers tied to an inspection or a claim are prohibited under section 489.147.
How does the grant work with your home insurance?
The program’s inspection documents your home’s wind-resistant features, and Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts or credits for those features. After upgrades, an updated inspection can show the improvements. Tell your insurer about completed work and ask which features earn a credit on your policy.
Florida’s wind mitigation inspection is recorded on the OIR-B1-1802 form. One caution: Citizens says the mitigation form is not accepted as proof that a roof was replaced. For that, it asks for permits, county records or contractor documents with paid invoices, so keep them.
If you have questions about how roof upgrades and inspections fit with your insurance, Residential Roofing Orlando can walk you through it. See our roof insurance claims assistance or call (407) 305-0865.
Frequently asked questions
These are short answers to questions homeowners search about My Safe Florida Home. Each points back to a fuller section above. Program rules and funding change, so confirm eligibility, amounts and status on the program’s official site before you apply.
Does My Safe Florida Home still have grant money?
When we checked on October 2, 2026, the program’s homepage said grants and inspections were available, and its FAQ said the current appropriation funds 18,490 grants. Check the official site on the day you apply.
What is the income limit for My Safe Florida Home?
There is no single limit. The program prioritizes low-income and moderate-income homeowners aged 60 and older, and defines low-income as household income at or below 80% of the median income for your county.
How much does the My Safe Florida Home grant pay?
The program’s homepage advertised grants of up to $10,000 when we checked on October 2, 2026. That is a maximum for approved upgrades, not a set payment, and terms differ for low-income homeowners. Confirm current amounts on the program’s site.
Can I get my roof replaced for free in Florida?
Not through My Safe Florida Home, which funds specific hurricane upgrades recommended by its inspection. Covered storm damage goes through your insurance claim. Florida law prohibits contractors offering gifts or deductible waivers for an inspection or a claim.
How do I apply for the My Safe Florida Home program?
Check eligibility, then apply for the free initial inspection on the program’s official site. If your home qualifies after the inspection, apply for a grant naming a licensed contractor. A final inspection follows the work.
Is the My Safe Florida Home program legit?
Yes, it is a state program with priority rules set by the Florida Legislature. Apply only through its official site, check any contractor’s licence with the state, and be wary of anyone charging to get you into the program.
