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Florida hurricane mitigation guide

My Safe Florida Home Program: Up to $10,000 for Impact Windows & Roofing

Understand the inspection, grant and construction process before starting your South Florida home-hardening project. Bigfoot helps homeowners plan code-compliant impact protection and roof improvements based on the recommendations in their official inspection report.

Check Official Eligibility Discuss My Project
Program availability, funding and approval are controlled by the Florida Department of Financial Services and may change by funding round. Confirm your current status through the official program portal.
Official inspection first Only recommended improvements may qualify.
Up to $10,000 Subject to eligibility, approval and available funding.
Approval before work Do not begin construction while an application is pending.
Completed South Florida roof project by Bigfoot Windows and Roofing

Potential state contribution

Up to $10K

State program

Matching grants generally provide $2 for every $1 contributed by the homeowner. Eligible low-income grants may not require a match.

Understand the funding

Two grant paths.
One important rule.

Your grant type determines how much the homeowner contributes and what documentation is required. The state—not the contractor—reviews eligibility, approves the project and authorizes the final payment.

Standard funding path

Matching Grant

Designed for eligible homeowners who can contribute toward the approved mitigation project.

2 : 1 State contribution compared with the homeowner contribution, up to the program maximum.
  • The state may reimburse up to two-thirds of the approved project cost.
  • The maximum state contribution is $10,000.
  • The homeowner generally pays the contractor and submits a paid-in-full invoice with the Draw Request.
  • Reimbursement is subject to final inspection, approval and available program funds.

Example project

Approved project cost $15,000
Potential state reimbursement Up to $10,000
Homeowner responsibility $5,000

Income-qualified path

Low-Income Grant

Available to eligible low-income homeowners who meet the program’s current qualification requirements.

$10K Maximum potential grant amount, subject to actual approved costs and available funding.
  • No matching homeowner contribution is required.
  • A paid-in-full invoice is not required for the Draw Request.
  • Funding is limited to the actual cost of approved, recommended improvements.
  • Income eligibility and the final grant amount are determined by the program.

Important distinction

Required matching contribution $0
Potential grant Up to $10,000
Program approval required Yes
Do not begin construction before receiving grant approval.

Starting mitigation work while the application is still pending can disqualify the project from reimbursement.

Check Official Eligibility ↗

Grant amounts, eligibility, application phases and available funding are controlled by the My Safe Florida Home Program and the Florida Department of Financial Services. Bigfoot Windows & Roofing does not determine or guarantee program approval or reimbursement.

Eligibility checklist

Could your home qualify?

There are two separate approval stages. First, the property must qualify for a program inspection. Then it must meet additional requirements to move into the grant phase.

First qualification stage

Initial Inspection

  • The property is an eligible Florida residential home on an individual parcel.
  • The home is site-built, rather than a mobile or manufactured home.
  • The property is the applicant’s primary, owner-occupied residence.
  • The homeowner has a current Florida homestead exemption for the property.
  • The applicant completes the program’s Prioritization Questionnaire and waits for their application group to open.

Important: receiving an inspection does not guarantee that the homeowner will receive a grant. The inspection must identify at least one eligible recommended improvement.

Additional qualification stage

Mitigation Grant

  • The home received an Initial Inspection through the MSFH Program and the report includes an eligible recommendation.
  • The inspection remains valid under the program’s current application timeline.
  • The home’s insured value is $700,000 or less, unless a current program exemption applies.
  • The home meets the program’s pre-January 1, 2008 construction requirement.
  • The homeowner provides the selected contractor’s name and active Florida license number.
  • The homeowner agrees to make the property available for the program’s required Final Inspection.
  • Construction does not begin until formal grant approval has been received.

Funding is limited: eligibility does not guarantee approval, grant availability or reimbursement.

Inspection exclusions

Properties that generally do not qualify

  • Mobile homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Rental properties
  • Vacation homes
  • Second homes
  • Condominiums
  • Cooperatives
  • Retirement homes
The official program—not Bigfoot—determines eligibility.

Complete the state questionnaire and verify your current application status through the official My Safe Florida Home portal.

Check Official Eligibility ↗

Requirements, prioritization groups, application windows and available funding may change. Always rely on the official My Safe Florida Home portal for the final eligibility determination.

Eligible mitigation work

What improvements can the program cover?

The program recognizes four categories of hurricane mitigation improvements. Your project must match the specific recommendations recorded in your official Initial Inspection Report.

The inspection report controls what may qualify.

A homeowner cannot substitute an unrelated upgrade or request reimbursement for work that was not recommended and verified through the program’s inspection process.

Improvement 1.0

Windows and doors

Opening Protection

Protects vulnerable openings from windborne debris and pressure during a hurricane using approved impact-resistant products or other compliant protection.

May include

  • Impact-resistant windows
  • Impact-rated exterior doors
  • Impact-rated garage doors
  • Approved skylight protection
Specific openings only: funding is limited to the openings identified for an upgrade in the Initial Inspection Report. Existing compliant shutters cannot simply be exchanged for impact windows through the grant.
Improvement 2.0

Structural connection

Roof-to-Wall Attachment

Strengthens the connection between the roof structure and the home’s walls to reduce the risk of roof uplift during severe winds.

May involve

  • Installing approved hurricane clips
  • Installing single or double wraps
  • Adding required fasteners to existing connections
  • Accessing connections through soffits, roof areas or attic space
Complete installation: qualifying roof-to-wall reinforcement generally must be completed at every applicable truss or rafter—not only in selected areas.
Improvement 3.0

Roof structure

Roof Deck Attachment

Reinforces how the roof deck is fastened to the rafters or trusses, helping the roof structure resist uplift and separation during high-wind conditions.

May involve

  • Adding approved roof-deck fasteners
  • Correcting inadequate nail spacing
  • Using stronger ring-shank nails where required
  • Completing the upgrade during an eligible roofing project
Inspection verification: the completed attachment improvement must be visible or verifiable during the program’s Final Inspection.
Improvement 4.0

Water intrusion protection

Secondary Water Resistance

Adds an approved secondary barrier over or beneath the roof deck to reduce water intrusion if the exterior roof covering is damaged or removed during a storm.

Approved methods may include

  • Full-coverage self-adhered underlayment
  • Approved seam tape over roof-deck joints
  • Eligible double-layer underlayment systems
  • Approved attic-side foam sealing systems
Product and installation matter: not every type of underlayment or roof-sealing method satisfies the program’s requirements.
Does the program pay for a complete roof replacement?

A roof replacement is not an eligible improvement by itself. Related roof-covering costs may qualify only when replacement is necessary to complete a recommended roof-to-wall attachment, roof-deck attachment or secondary water-resistance improvement. Roof patching and partial repairs are not eligible.

Discuss My Recommended Improvements → Read the Official Program FAQs ↗

Only improvements recommended in the Initial Inspection Report and confirmed during the Final Inspection may receive grant funding. Bigfoot Windows & Roofing does not determine program eligibility, covered improvements or reimbursement.

Step-by-step process

From inspection to grant payment

The program follows a specific order. Keep every approval, inspection report, contract, permit, invoice and insurance response together throughout the project.

Inspection phase

State application

Apply for the Initial Inspection

Complete the Prioritization Questionnaire and wait until your inspection group has access to the application.

The state-appointed inspector evaluates the home and uploads an Initial Inspection Report identifying any recommended mitigation improvements.

Grant phase

Program approval

Submit the Grant Application

Review the eligible recommendations, provide the required homeowner documentation and identify your selected contractor.

Do not start work yet. Wait until the portal confirms formal grant approval before beginning construction.

Planning phase

Licensed contractor

Finalize the Approved Scope

Work with a properly licensed Florida contractor to prepare the contract, products, permits and installation plan.

The scope should correspond directly with the improvements recommended in the Initial Inspection Report.

Construction phase

Complete the project

Install the Mitigation Improvements

The contractor completes the approved work, required inspections and permit closeout documentation.

Before requesting the state inspection, confirm the entire recommended improvement was installed correctly and all applicable permits are closed.

Verification phase

One final inspection

Request the Final Inspection

Request the Final Inspection through the Applicant Portal after the project is fully completed.

The inspector verifies which recommended improvements were successfully completed and uploads the Final Inspection Report.

Payment phase

Final documentation

Complete the Draw Request

Submit the Final Inspection Report to your insurance provider, collect its written response and complete the Draw Request.

Upload the required invoice, payment documentation when applicable, insurance response and disbursement information.

Plan carefully before requesting the Final Inspection.

The program permits only one Final Inspection and one grant disbursement. Confirm that all selected work is complete, correctly installed and ready to be verified before submitting the request through the portal.

Plan My Mitigation Project → Read the Official Homeowner Guide ↗

Application steps, deadlines, required documents and portal procedures may change. Always follow the instructions and case status displayed in your official My Safe Florida Home Applicant Portal.

Your construction partner

How Bigfoot helps after you receive your report

Bigfoot supports the construction side of the process. We help translate the inspection recommendations into a practical, code-compliant project for your South Florida home.

Review the inspection recommendations

We review the Initial Inspection Report with you and identify which recommended improvements match the services and licenses required for your project.

Build a matching construction scope

The proposal is organized around the eligible recommendations, rather than mixing unrelated repairs or cosmetic upgrades into the grant scope.

Confirm code-compliant products

For Miami-Dade and Broward projects, we verify applicable Florida Product Approvals and Miami-Dade NOAs before the installation plan is finalized.

Manage permits and installation

Our team coordinates applicable permits, jobsite protection, installation, inspections and permit closeout for the contracted construction work.

Document the completed project

We provide the contract, scope, product information, contractor invoice and available project documentation needed for the homeowner’s records.

Prepare for final verification

Before the homeowner requests the program’s Final Inspection, we confirm that the contracted scope is complete and applicable permit requirements have been addressed.

Already have your Initial Inspection Report?

Schedule a project conversation and bring the complete report so our team can review the recommended construction scope.

Review My Project →

The homeowner remains responsible for the state application, contractor selection and information submitted through the Applicant Portal. Bigfoot Windows & Roofing provides construction services under a separate homeowner-contractor agreement.

Protect your application

Seven mistakes that can put reimbursement at risk

Most problems come from doing the right work in the wrong order, using an incomplete scope or requesting verification before the project is truly ready.

Starting before grant approval

Do not order materials, pull construction permits or begin installation while the grant application is still pending. Wait for formal approval.

Using an unlicensed contractor

The selected contractor must hold the correct active Florida license for the work being completed.

Adding unrelated work to the grant

Cosmetic changes, repairs and upgrades that do not match the Initial Inspection Report should be documented separately.

Assuming a whole roof is covered

A complete roof replacement is not automatically funded simply because the roof is old or approaching the end of its service life.

Requesting inspection too early

Confirm that every selected improvement is complete, correctly installed and ready to be observed before requesting the one Final Inspection.

Leaving permits open

Applicable contractor permits and local inspections should be approved and closed before the grant Draw Request is completed.

Losing project documentation

Keep the report, approval, contract, invoice, proof of payment, permit records, product documents and insurance response together.

The Final Inspection is not a practice inspection.

Incorrectly installed or incomplete recommended improvements may not receive grant funding. Confirm that the project is ready before submitting the request.

Official Guide ↗

Frequently asked questions

My Safe Florida Home answers

Clear answers about inspections, contractors, impact windows, roofing and what happens after the construction is complete.

Does receiving an inspection guarantee that I will receive a grant?

No. The Initial Inspection and the grant are separate stages. The inspection must identify an eligible recommended improvement, and the homeowner must still satisfy the current grant requirements, submit the required application and receive formal approval.

Can I choose my own contractor?

Yes. The homeowner selects the contractor and must ensure that the company holds the appropriate active Florida license for the work. The program and the Florida Department of Financial Services are not responsible for selecting or managing the contractor.

Can the grant cover impact windows and doors?

Opening protection may qualify when it is specifically recommended in the Initial Inspection Report. Funding is limited to eligible openings and products that are completed and observed during the Final Inspection.

Does the program automatically pay for a complete roof replacement?

No. A roof replacement is not an eligible improvement simply because the existing roof is old. Related roof-covering costs may qualify only when they are necessary to complete an approved, recommended roof-to-wall, roof-deck or secondary water-resistance improvement.

Can construction begin while my application is pending?

No. Wait until formal grant approval has been received through the program before starting the mitigation work. Beginning before approval can make the project ineligible for reimbursement.

Can Bigfoot submit or approve my state application?

No. The homeowner is the applicant and manages the official Applicant Portal. Bigfoot can help review the inspection report, prepare the construction scope, provide contractor information and complete the contracted mitigation work, but the state controls the application and approval.

What happens after the construction is complete?

Confirm that the selected scope is complete and applicable permits are closed. The homeowner then requests the program’s Final Inspection, receives the Final Inspection Report, submits that report to the insurance provider and completes the Draw Request through the Applicant Portal.

How much grant funding can an eligible homeowner receive?

The maximum potential state contribution is generally $10,000. The actual amount depends on the grant type, approved project costs, program eligibility, legislative appropriations and available funds. Approval and the maximum amount are not guaranteed.

Program information can change. Confirm current requirements, deadlines and funding availability through the official My Safe Florida Home website and Applicant Portal.

Ready for the construction step?

Bring us your inspection report. We’ll help plan the project.

Bigfoot can review the recommended improvements, prepare a South Florida code-compliant scope and explain which parts of the construction are included in our proposal before you sign.

Schedule My Project Review → Visit the Official Program ↗

Bigfoot Windows & Roofing is an independent Florida contractor and is not affiliated with or employed by the My Safe Florida Home Program or the Florida Department of Financial Services. Program eligibility, grant approval, deadlines, funding and reimbursement are determined solely by the state program.

Updated July 2026