Insurance rates, discounts and eligibility vary by carrier, policy, coverage and property. This article summarizes publicly available rate and mitigation information and is not insurance, financial, or legal advice — confirm current rates and discount eligibility with a licensed Florida insurance agent.
For the first time in years, Florida's home insurance market is handing homeowners something other than another rate increase. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation — the state-run insurer of last resort — won approval from Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation for a statewide rate cut taking effect in 2026, and a handful of private carriers have filed decreases of their own. But the relief isn't flat across the board: insurers are leaning harder than before on wind mitigation features — the same roof, window and door upgrades Broward and Miami-Dade homeowners already weigh for storm protection — to decide who actually sees the biggest savings.
What's Actually Changing in 2026
Citizens announced in March 2026 that its homeowners multiperil policies would see an average rate cut of 8.8%, with every Citizens personal-lines policyholder guaranteed a reduction of at least 2%. Homeowners wind-only policies drop by an average of 5.5%. The new rates took effect July 1, 2026 for new policyholders, and apply to existing policies as they come up for renewal. It's the first broad-based rate relief Citizens policyholders have seen in years, after a long stretch of increases driven by reinsurance costs and litigation.
Private carriers are a more mixed picture. Some — including Tower Hill in several Florida counties — have filed their own rate decreases, and newer entrants like Slide Insurance and TypTap are actively courting Citizens policyholders with competitive pricing, particularly for homes with newer roofs and updated electrical systems. Others have held steady or increased in certain counties. In other words: the statewide average is genuinely down, but what lands on your renewal notice still depends heavily on your carrier, your county and your property — not just the headline number.
Why Wind Mitigation Is the Deciding Factor
Florida law requires insurers to offer credits for specific wind mitigation features, documented on the OIR-B1-1802 wind mitigation inspection form: roof age and shape, roof-deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections (straps or clips), a secondary water barrier, and opening protection such as impact-rated windows and doors. Carriers are reported to be rewarding these features more aggressively in 2026 than in prior years — homes with a newer roof or impact windows are seeing real discounts stack on top of the broader rate relief, while homes with aging roofs or unprotected openings may not benefit much from the statewide average at all, and can still see an increase at renewal even in a year when rates are falling overall.
That makes a current wind mitigation inspection worth more in 2026 than it has been in years. We cover the specific features insurers check and credit in our guide to the 7 features that lower your premium, and what changed on the inspection form itself in our 2026 wind mitigation form guide.
The Upgrades That Actually Move Your Premium
- Roof age and condition. A roof under 10 years old is the single biggest factor carriers weigh, and it's frequently the difference between qualifying for a private carrier's best rate or getting stuck with Citizens. See our roofing services or our guide on repair vs. replacement.
- Impact-rated windows and doors. In the HVHZ, every glazed opening has to be protected to get the full opening-protection credit — one unrated window or garage door can drop you from a full credit to a partial one. See our impact windows vs. hurricane shutters comparison or explore windows & doors services.
- Hurricane straps and clips. Roof-to-wall connections are usually assessed and upgraded during a re-roof — worth asking your contractor about explicitly if you're already planning one.
- A secondary water barrier. Typically added when a roof is recovered or replaced; it keeps water out even if the primary roof covering is damaged, and it's one of the easier credits to pick up during a planned re-roof.
Florida's My Safe Florida Home program also offers free wind mitigation inspections and matching grants toward some of these upgrades for qualifying homeowners — see our 2026 program status guide before paying out of pocket for an inspection or upgrade.
If You're Still With Citizens
Some Florida insurance agencies report that homeowners who've been with Citizens for two years or more can see meaningful savings — commonly cited in the 10–20% range — by moving to a private carrier through a takeout offer, though actual savings depend entirely on the carrier, the property and current filings. If you receive a takeout offer, compare it on more than price: check the coverage limits, exclusions, deductibles (especially the hurricane deductible), and the carrier's financial strength rating before switching away from Citizens.
What Broward & Miami-Dade Homeowners Should Do Now
- Check your policy's renewal date — the 2026 rate changes apply to existing policies at renewal, not automatically mid-term.
- If your last wind mitigation inspection is more than about five years old, or you've re-roofed or added impact windows since, a fresh inspection can document credits you're not currently getting.
- Ask your agent directly whether your specific carrier filed a 2026 rate decrease — the statewide average doesn't apply evenly to every policy.
- If your roof is approaching 10 years old, weigh replacing it proactively against waiting — insurability and premium, not just damage, are now part of that math.
- Verify any contractor's license at myfloridalicense.com before signing a contract for roof, window or door work tied to a mitigation upgrade.
Bottom Line
Florida's 2026 rate relief is real — Citizens' 8.8% average cut is regulator-approved and taking effect at renewals through the year — but it's an average, not a guarantee for every homeowner. The properties seeing the biggest actual savings are the ones that can document strong wind mitigation features: a newer roof, fully protected openings, and verified roof-to-wall connections. If your home is due for a re-roof or window upgrade anyway, 2026 is a reasonable year to also ask how that work affects your insurance file, not just your storm protection.