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4-point and wind mitigation inspection: what each one checks before you buy
A 4-point and wind mitigation inspection is two separate Florida insurance inspections; some inspectors do both in one visit. The 4-point checks the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC so an insurer can decide whether to cover the house; the wind mitigation inspection records storm-resistant features on the state form OIR-B1-1802, which can earn premium discounts.
TL;DR
- 4-point: four systems: roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC. The inspector fills out the insurer's form (Citizens publishes a sample). It decides insurability, not discounts.
- Wind mitigation: the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802): building code, roof covering, deck and roof-to-wall attachment, roof shape, sealed deck, and opening protection. A new version took effect April 1, 2026. The form is valid up to five years if nothing material changes.
- Not the same inspection. Different forms, different questions. Some inspectors offer both in one visit.
- Before you book: county permits show dated roof, AC, plumbing, electrical, and window work. A permit is not an inspection result.
What a 4-point inspection checks
A licensed inspector records the age, type, and condition of each system, with photos. The form sets no pass/fail thresholds; each insurer applies its own rules.
Full field-by-field guide: Florida 4-point inspection.
What a wind mitigation inspection checks
The OIR-B1-1802 form (Rev. 04/26) asks nine questions:
- Building code in force at the original permit (2001/2004 FBC, 2007 or later, or unknown)
- Region (design windspeed)
- Roof slope
- Roof covering, with permit date or product approval and year installed
- Roof deck attachment
- Roof-to-wall attachment
- Roof geometry (hip, flat, other)
- Sealed roof deck
- Opening protection: the weakest on any window, door, skylight, or garage door. The 2026 form adds "damaged openings."
Answers to questions 2 through 9 need at least one photo or document as proof. Who may sign is set by Section 627.711(2), Florida Statutes: trained home inspectors, building code inspectors, contractors, engineers, architects, and others the insurer recognizes. The form is valid up to five years if the structure doesn't materially change.
Are they the same?
No. The 4-point decides whether an insurer writes the policy. Wind mitigation affects what you pay: OIR says consumers "can take advantage of insurance premium savings" for wind-mitigation features. A new roof and AC can clear the 4-point while the wind form shows no opening protection.
What county permits show before either inspection
Permits can't fill in either form, but they tell you what to ask.
| Permit record | 4-point | Wind mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Roof permit (date, full or partial) | Roof age, last roofing permit | Roof covering (Q4) |
| AC changeout | HVAC age | — |
| Repipe | Plumbing | — |
| Panel or service change | Electrical | — |
| Window, door, shutter permit | — | Opening protection (Q9) |
| Year built | — | Building code (Q1) |
The pattern to watch: built before 2002 with no window permit on record. The inspector will have to find opening protection on site, and question 1 (building code) has no Florida Building Code answer for a house permitted before March 1, 2002 (outside Miami-Dade and Broward).
That pattern is common here. In Sarasota County, about 179,000 of 280,000 housing units (64%) were built before 2000, per the U.S. Census ACS 2024 1-year estimate (table B25034).
See Sarasota County building permit search.
Two Sarasota County examples
49 Sandstone Cir, Venice FL 34293 (Before You Show It report from Sarasota County records, searched through 2026-09-14). Built 1982. Tile reroof 2020 (35 squares), AC replaced 2022, electrical service change 2019, repipe 2010 (scope not stated). The roof permit text lists Florida product approval numbers (FL7473.1, FL9777.7), the kind of number question 4 asks for. A 2022 garage door permit is on record (garage doors count in question 9, but a permit alone does not show an impact rating). There is no window permit on record on a pre-2002 house. Flood Zone AE, evacuation Zone C: see Sarasota County flood zone map by address.
Sarasota County Property Appraiser (public parcel download, Oct 15, 2026): built 1982 · 1,742 sq ft living area · just value $242,000, assessed $242,000 · last sale Dec 2, 2019, $231,000 · roof on the appraiser's record: concrete tile, gable (cover and structure only, not roof age).
987 Queen Rd, Venice FL 34293 (unincorporated Sarasota County, records as of 2026-09-14). Built 1978; the county lists a gable roof. Shingle reroof permitted March 2025 (RES-ROOF-25-002879, closed). Its permit text says "re-nail any loose wood" and "peel and stick underlayment," which bear on deck attachment and sealed roof deck (questions 5 and 8); only the inspector can verify them. AC changeout 2010. No repipe permit on a 1978 house. A June 2025 100-amp panel change permit is still open (inspection phase). No window permit on record. Settle the open permit and the window question before you write the offer. Flood Zone X at the building, evacuation Zone C.
Sarasota County Property Appraiser (public parcel download, Oct 15, 2026): built 1978 · 1,584 sq ft living area · just value $228,400, assessed $228,400 · last sale May 27, 2022, $390,000 · roof on the appraiser's record: asphalt or fiberglass shingles, gable (cover and structure only, not roof age).
Same lesson twice: a recent roof doesn't settle the openings, and the 4-point doesn't ask about them.
Cost
Prices vary by inspector and house. Ask for a quote and whether they do both in one visit.
FAQ
Is a 4-point inspection the same as wind mitigation?
No. The 4-point covers roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC for insurability. Wind mitigation uses OIR-B1-1802 to record storm-resistant features for discounts.
What will get flagged on a 4-point inspection in Florida?
The form records roof damage or leaks, electrical hazards, and plumbing leaks; each insurer decides what it won't accept. See what a Florida 4-point checks.
Where can I find the Florida wind mitigation form?
On the OIR wind mitigation page. The version effective April 1, 2026 is listed there.
Does a wind mitigation inspection save money on insurance?
It can. OIR says premium savings are available for verified features; the amount depends on the insurer and the house. Ask your insurer or agent.
How old can a roof be for insurance in Florida?
Under Fla. Stat. 627.7011, an insurer "may not refuse to issue or refuse to renew a homeowner's policy insuring a residential structure with a roof that is less than 15 years old solely because of the age of the roof." For a roof 15 or older, the insurer must allow a roof inspection first, and may not refuse solely on age if the inspection shows 5 or more years of useful life left. More detail is in the Florida 4-point inspection guide.
Related
- Florida 4-point inspection
- Sarasota County building permit search
- Sarasota County flood zone map by address
Check a house free
A 4-point asks how old the roof, AC, plumbing and electrical are. A wind mitigation form asks about the roof and opening protection. Enter an address to see those dated permit lines from the county file, plus flood and evacuation. It shows what the record says; it is not either inspection.
Sources: Citizens 4-Point Inspection Form Insp4pt 03 25 · Florida OIR, Wind Mitigation Resources and OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) · Fla. Stat. 627.7011 · Sarasota County permit records (Before You Show It reports) · U.S. Census ACS 2024 1-year, B25034, Sarasota County · Kin: combined inspections. Not an inspection, insurance, or legal advice.